P&O Pacific Explorer passengers discuss how the search for capsized Port Lincoln fishing vessel unfolded

Passengers have revealed the sombre mood aboard the P&O Pacific Explorer, which helped in the search for the capsized fishing boat near Port Lincoln.

Passengers on-board the P&O Pacific Explorer – that was drawn into the exhaustive search for a capsized fishing boat off the Port Lincoln coast – have revealed how it unfolded for them.

The liner, with more than 2000 people on-board, answered a distress call from Canberra and Adelaide marine agencies about 2am to help search for the stricken vessel near Spilsby Island.

About an hour later, Paralowie couple Ray Osborn and Pat Wheatley had ducked out for a cigarette only to be told that the side of the ship was closed to passengers, and the cruise liner had answered a distress call.

“What we think happened was (ship crew) were scared there was a body or something that might come close by, but we didn’t know this at the time,” Mrs Wheatley said.

“We thought we were just docking.”

Ray Osborn and Pat Wheatley from Paralowie were on-board the P&O Pacific Explorer during its search for the capsized fishing vessel. Picture: Mark Brake

The captain addressed passengers around 7am about the search, with crew regularly updating those on-board with the latest information.

“They apologised, saying they couldn’t come into Port Lincoln because they were doing the search,” Mrs Wheatley said.

“Conditions were calm, it was good.

“It’s unreal being on a ship and seeing all the boats and the helicopters going out (for the search).

“You don’t realise how many people are up there really searching.

“To tell the truth, it’s a beautiful feeling.

“It just shows that everybody comes together and that’s what it is all about.”

Mr Osborn, who spent two years working in the southern seas as a commercial fisherman, said it was daunting to think of being stranded in water overnight.

“It’s maritime law that anything like that, any vessel in the area has got to search, regardless of what they’re doing,” he said.

“I’ve been out in the south sea a lot and I could think of nothing worse than being in the water in the dark, especially out here with the sharks.”

Adelaide friends Susan Cowling and Julie Alves woke to the news about 7am.

They commended the captain for keeping passengers informed of what was happening.

Mrs Alves said the ship was released from the search about 10am, but it did one last sweep of the grid it was searching as it continued towards Port Lincoln.

“It’s tragic, just tragic,” she said.

“Being on a cruise ship really brings home the expanse of the sea, and the gravity of what could happen to you if you were in that situation.”

Susan Cowling and Julie Alves commended the captain for keeping passengers informed while on-board the Explorer. Picture: Mark Brake

She said the cruise ship’s crew lined level 12 as they helped in the search for any survivors.

“There was a very sombre mood on board,” she said.

“On a cruise ship like that, you can forget the perils of the sea.”

Thousands of passengers disembarked the cruise ship at Port Lincoln on Wednesday morning.

The ship will continue its journey to Kangaroo Island on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Flinders University vice chancellor Colin Stirling has shared an update and paid tribute to Port Lincoln boat tragedy survivor and colleague Professor Danny Eckert.