All passengers and crew aboard the MV Akwa in the Solomon Islands have now been taken off the vessel and made it to shore in a multi-nation rescue mission.
The vessel which was travelling between islands in the Temotu Province lost its main engine and had been adrift since Friday morning, with a Starlink on board allowing some passengers to livestream their plight on social media and alert authorities.
The 73 passengers and crew on board have now been rescued and transferred to the HELPR-1, a Vanuatu based health response vessel, and transported to Vanikoro in the Temotu Province.
Temotu's Provincial Government thanked all international partners involved in the rescue , including the French and Australian Governments for air dropping essential supplies to the MV Akwa, the Vanuatu Government for sending HELPR-1 and the Chinese Government and cargo ship Sunnine 3 for diverting from its original destination to deliver food and water.
Several passengers were able to swim out and bring the supplies back to the life rafts, although one large package couldn't be retrieved because of the large sharks swimming around it.
Sunnine 3 also dropped uncooked chicken and noodles to the group and a video was posted showing it being cooked up and children enthusiastically eating.
"This humanitarian response was an important contribution to the welfare of the passengers during their time of distress...your willingness to assist people in distress at sea will be remembered with sincere appreciation," a government spokesperson said in a statement.
The disabled vessel was being towed by patrol boat Gizo and the rescued passengers are to be taken from Vanikoro to Lata.
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