Fact File

June - A 38 meter boat with five crew on board disap peared in cyclone conditions.

Authorities believe ocean currents would have swept the boat towards Tuvalu. No life raft was on board.

July - Two boats from Sagone in Savaii were attempting to negotiate a tricky chan nel at night. They collided. The bodies of two brothers were later washed up on shore. No safety equipment was on either vessel.

August - A three man fishing boat on die southern side of Upolu island went out on a day conditions so bad the police patrol boat Nofanua sent out to look for them was forced to take shelter. No safety equipment was on board.

August - A three man boat pulled out of Apia Harbour and was never seen again.

Although equipped with a radio, the fish eries division receiver had broken down for the first 3 days the boat was missing. The fisheries division failed to warn any fishing boats of the situation.

The boat had no other safety gear. ■