Seventy-three people, including 15 crew members, were rescued from MV AWKA after the vessel lost all engine power and drifted between Tikopia and Vanikoro in Temotu Province, the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) said.
Police said the patrol boat RSIPV Gizo was pulled off its Operation Kurukuru 2026 work — fisheries surveillance and maritime security — to answer the call. It left Aola Patrol Boat Base in Honiara at 12:00 midday on 10 October 2026 and covered more than 400 nautical miles before reaching the ship, approximately 10.6 nautical miles off Tevai Island, Vanikoro.
Superintendent Derick Naotoro, who commands RSIPV Gizo, said the voyage and the rescue were demanding. Swells ran to approximately three metres and winds reached around 30 knots, he said.
Commander of RSIPF Police Maritime, Nevol Soko, said the Solomon Islands Maritime Authority (SIMA) and the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) helped with planning and coordination. He also thanked an Australian overflight and two vessels already on scene when the patrol boat arrived, MV HELPR 1 and SUNNINE 3, and commended Superintendent Naotoro and his crew for their work under pressure.
Police said some passengers went ashore at Vanikoro, while most were taken to the Temotu provincial capital, Lata, on MV HELPR 1, a Vanuatu-supported medical and rescue vessel.
RSIPV Gizo left Lata on 13 October 2026 to resume its maritime security patrol duties under Operation Kurukuru 2026, police said. The force said the diversion showed its duty to protect life at sea alongside its national and regional maritime security work.
Source: Royal Solomon Islands Police Force statement published on the Solomon Islands Government portal, 15 October 2026. https://solomons.gov.sb/rsipv-gizo-responds-to-maritime-distress-and-supports-rescue-of-73-people-aboard-mv-awka/