A search resumed at daylight for more than 100 people, many believed to be students, still missing after a ferry sank in Papua New Guinea as the ship's owner said it had no idea what happened.
So far, 238 survivors have been plucked to safety in a joint Australian-PNG rescue operation after the MV Rabaul Queen sank on Thursday morning.
Australia's Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said the ship went down about nine nautical miles (16 kilometres) off the coast and the survivors reached the eastern town of Lae in the early hours of Friday morning.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
"Five vessels, with a total of 238 survivors on board, proceeded to Lae last night, with the first vessel arriving shortly after 1:00am (1300 GMT Thursday)," AMSA said.
"The passengers are being transferred to Lae by the port's tug, under the coordination of PNG authorities."
It said three merchant vessels remained on scene with the search resuming at daylight assisted by four aircraft -- two local helicopters, an AMSA search and rescue Dornier aircraft from Cairns and a Careflight lear jet from Townsville.
PNG-based Rabaul Shipping, the owner of the vessel, said it lost contact with the MV Rabaul Queen while it was travelling between Kimbe and Lae.
In a statement, it said there were 350 passengers and 12 crew onboard on the Japanese-built vessel. The passengers were PNG locals, mainly students with Lae, the ship's final destination, home to a large university.
"We are stunned and utterly devastated by what has happened," Rabaul Shipping managing director Peter Sharp said.
"We acknowledge that this has caused tremendous suffering. Our condolences go to the loved ones of those affected."
The company said it remained unclear why the ship sank.
"It's understood that the ferry captain had routine radio contact with another vessel not long before sinking," the company said.
"There appeared to be no indications of distress during this communication."
It said they became aware something was wrong early Thursday morning when the ferry failed to appear on a satellite tracking system.
The company alerted AMSA which subsequently coordinated with PNG's National Maritime Safety Authority with vessels in the area diverted to the ferry's last known position.
The ferry had travelled the route on a weekly basis for 11 years without incident and underwent a dry dock service in November, Rabaul Shipping added.
Before plying routes in PNG, it operated on shorter runs in Japan, where she carried up to 550 passengers.
"While we are trying to comprehend the terrible nature of the accident, we are also staying focused on helping authorities as the search and rescue operation unfolds," Sharp said.
