Three men missing in the Micronesia archipelago were spotted on Sunday on uninhabited Pikelot Island by searchers on Australian and United States aircraft three days after setting out from Pulawat atoll in a 7-metre boat on July 30. Heading to Pulap atoll 43 kilometres away, they sailed off course and ran out of fuel. The men were found about 190 kilometres from where they had set out.
This serves as another example highlighting the need for improved safety standards and practices for even the smallest vessels, including diversified propulsion between motor and sail rigs. Fortunately, these men were spotted and rescued, which is not often the outcome when people at sea going missing across the region.