Media Release

Fantasea Assists Stranded Tourists

18th February 2008

Fantasea Adventure Cruising was pleased to be of assistance to Jetstar and its stranded Sydney bound passengers on Saturday evening. Mechanical problems with flight JQ849, due to depart at 3:00pm, meant the 115 passengers had a long, wet wait at the airport. Due to 100% occupancy, Hamilton Island was unable to accommodate the passengers overnight and Jetstar had to make alternate arrangements.

Jetstar organised accommodation on the mainland and contacted Fantasea to transport passengers from Hamilton Island to Shute Harbour. Fantasea management assembled the vessel and crew of “Fantasea Wonder” to take the un-scheduled trip to Hamilton Island to collect the passengers late on Saturday evening. The normal one hour round-trip took over three hours due to weather conditions and did not arrive back at Shute Harbour until 11:40pm. Whitsunday Transit executives also rose to the occasion with the Operations Manager and General Manager organising and driving the buses which were arranged to meet the ferry upon its return and transport the group to various accommodation around Airlie Beach.

Fantasea Operations Manager Tony Crank said, “we maintain a fleet of eight high-speed catamarans, including our cruise ship MV Fantasea Ammari and its powerful 30-seat tender “Fantasea Cruisin’”. Not only do we offer the most comprehensive ferry schedule in the Whitsundays but we are available, in extreme conditions, to offer assistance and service above and beyond other operators. Our crew were prepared to work overtime in rough weather conditions on Saturday night to take a ferry to Hamilton Island and collect the stranded Jetstar passengers”.

In the past month Fantasea has assisted a variety of people in need of help. Our Reefworld crew provided assistance to a fisherman awaiting medical airlift to Mackay from CQ Rescue; reduced fares were provided to the rescued passengers from “Romance” who needed to travel from Shute Harbour to Hamilton Island airport and crew from MV Fantasea Ammari were able to assist a yacht in distress at Cid Harbour during the storm on the morning of 12 February.

Fantasea CEO Hume Campbell said “I am proud of how Fantasea Adventure Cruising and staff are always prepared to go out of their way to help in an emergency”.