A yacht with two people on board has encountered difficulties while sailing between Fiji and Vanuatu.

At 4:30 this afternoon, Commissioner of the Vanuatu Maritime Authority, Less Napuati, confirmed that the RVS Takuare is now preparing to deploy a search and rescue operation.

Authorities have issued a marine warning, with rough seas and swells reaching up to three metres.

Mr. Napuati said the alert came from the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in New Caledonia, which requested assistance from the Vanuatu Police Commissioner to deploy the RVS Takuare.

He added that, because the yacht is currently near Vanuatu’s waters, it is Vanuatu’s duty to coordinate and respond to the emergency.