Rough seas hamper rescue of asylum boat

4 Jul 2012, 10:26 pm   -   Source: AAP

Rough seas near Christmas Island mean a transfer of asylum seekers to naval ships could take several hours.

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Australian authorities say a transfer of asylum seekers to naval ships could take several hours in rough seas near Christmas Island.

Customs and Border Protection along with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority said HMAS Leeuwin had joined HMAS Wollongong in the rescue of an asylum-seeker vessel that issued a distress call south of Indonesia.

Attempts to transfer about 164 people on the boat to the Leeuwin were being made because of concerns about the seaworthiness of the vessel.

"Continuing rough sea conditions will mean the transfer may take several hours," a joint statement from Customs and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority on Wednesday night said.

The crew of the boat called Australian authorities at about 4.30am AEST on Wednesday, claiming they were taking on water and needed help.

The call sparked a major search and rescue effort, with the Wollongong the first on the scene about 52 nautical miles south of the Indonesian island of Java.

The boat was located about 110 kilometres southwest of West Java and 370km northwest of Christmas Island, inside Indonesia's search and rescue region.

Earlier on Wednesday, Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare said conditions were so rough - sea state six - Wollongong personnel could not safely board the vessel.

Customs said the safety and wellbeing of the crew from the two Australian naval ships along with the people on the boat remained the "first priority".

Leeuwin was expected to transfer the people to Christmas Island, it said.

The distress call came just two weeks after a boat carrying about 200 people capsized on its way to Christmas Island, leaving an estimated 90 people dead.

Another boat carrying 134 people sank last week, leaving four people dead.

Federal parliament last week failed to pass laws that would have restored the government's power to send asylum seekers to other countries for processing.

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