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Boatload of suspected asylum seekers arrives off Australia's Christmas Island - file photo - Source: Getty Images -
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Australian authorities have gone to the aid of a boat carrying 63 suspected asylum seekers off the West Australian coast.
The vessel, which arrived yesterday afternoon, is the third asylum-seeker boat in 24 hours to reach Australian waters.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority Rescue Co-ordination Centre conducted a search-and-rescue operation, before finding it north-west of Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Home Affairs minister Jason Clare said in a statement today.
Merchant vessel TW Manila picked up the 63 passengers, and they arrived at Christmas Island this morning to undergo security, health and identity checks. Two other vessels, carrying a total of 146 passengers, arrived in Australian waters earlier yesterday.
HMAS Launceston found one boat north-east of Ashmore Islands with 80 passengers on board, while the other with 66 passengers was found north-west of Christmas Island, and assisted by HMAS Childers and HMAS Maitland.
"People arriving by boat without a visa after 13 August 2012 run the risk of transfer to a regional processing country," Mr Clare said.