Fed: Two boats arrive in one day

AAP General News (Australia)
12-17-1999
Fed: Two boats arrive in one day

A boat carrying 54 suspected illegal immigrants has landed on the storm-battered north
west coast of Western Australia, after surviving cyclonic conditions.

The boat, which was spotted yesterday, is the second vessel to arrive in Australian
waters in one day.

Customs Minister AMANDA VANSTONE says workers at a pearl farm alerted authorities to
the boat which landed on the West Australian coast at remote Vansittart Bay.

The customs vessel Botany Bay, which had been on its way to Ashmore Reef to help process
150 boat people, who arrived there earlier yesterday, was diverted to help with the second
boat.

A response team of customs and immigration officers from Darwin arrived by helicopter
early today.

Senator VANSTONE says the vessel may have also been heading for the Ashmore Reef area
but was knocked off course by the wild weather whipped up by cyclones John and Ilsa.

AAP RTV daw/wz/rt

KEYWORD: BOAT (CANBERRA)

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