Eight months after departing Timaru on a fishing expedition to the South Atlantic, Sanford’s San Aspiring long-liner has returned to New Zealand docking in Timaru on Wednesday morning.
Most of the 27-strong crew, which left Timaru in February for what should have been a three-month stint at sea, were brought home in August after a daring retrieval mission was launched when Covid-19 left them with few options to get home.
But eight crew stayed behind to continue working they and the other 11 crew on the long-liner are now awaiting Covid-19 test results before they can step back on home soil for the first time since February.
Sanford deep water fleet manager Darryn Shaw said the San Aspiring arrived just after 11am and the crew were exceptionally relieved to be home.
To welcome them home, we have sent over welcome home packs including all New Zealand products such as lollies, All Blacks’ deodorant, L&P, and flat white coffee.
They have not requested anything in particular, as yet, but we have also sent fresh stores like meat and vegetables for their meals.
The vessel had been in the South Atlantic fishing for toothfish and on a scientific expedition. Crew were being kept in a 24-hour quarantine while they awaited Covid-19 test results, Shaw said.
The crew were swabbed on arrival on Wednesday morning, and would be allowed to leave the vessel once test results returned negative, he said.