Coronavirus: Newcastle surfers stuck on charter boat off Indonesia heading to second port

The group had been stranded off the port of Waingapu in Sumba after the harbour master cancelled arrivals while they were halfway through a 10-day surfing trip.

But one of the men, Nelson Rankin, said on Facebook on Monday morning that the group were heading to the fishing town of Labuan Bajo, on the island of Flores, and hoped to fly to Bali from there.

REPORTED EARLIER

The Australian Consulate-General in Bali is trying to find a port that will take 13 Newcastle surfers stuck on a charter boat after being denied entry to an Indonesian island over coronavirus fears.

The men, including the two brothers of Bali accident victim Lawson Rankin, feared they were running out of fuel, food and water at the end of a 10-day surfing trip.

But a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson said on Sunday night that DFAT had sought and received assurances that the boat would have "adequate fuel and food supplies".

"The Australian Consulate-General in Bali is in close contact with Indonesian authorities to resolve the situation, including by trying to find a port at which the boat can dock and the passengers disembark," the spokesperson said.

Nelson Rankin, who lives in Bali, and Campbell Rankin are on board the charter boat. Their brother, Lawson, is recovering after a scooter accident in Bali last year nearly claimed his life.

Nelson Rankin wrote on Facebook that the men had been tested by government officials when they boarded the boat on March 5 but were now "in a bit of a pickle" after the regional government stopped accepting visitors on March 8 while they were at sea.

"We ... were registered with the harbour master to arrive today..if anybody has any idea if this is legal, or has any incite or even a good contact of someone who may be in a position to help, any information would be greatly appreciated," he wrote.

"We have minimal supplies as the trip is only stocked for the 10 days, Today being the last day.. #sos please share to help us."

Another of the men, Bryden Roper, told Channel Nine on Sunday that the group's situation was looking grim as they waited off the port of Waingapu.

"We've had one boat come out to speak to us to basically tell us we can't come to land," he said.

"We've had no assistance offered to us, no food, no water and we just had our last meal."

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Mr Roper said on Sunday afternoon on Facebook that the men had since been told they would "receive access to necessities then we will wait for a harbor clearance to leave".

The men left Lombok on a charter boat 10 days ago and have missed flights back to Bali and Australia.

When they finally return home, they face 14 days of isolation in Australia after Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced new measures to stop the flow of the coronavirus from overseas.