Advertisement

Captain tells of rescue

The captain of the navy vessel trying to save men desperately clinging to a sinking asylum seeker vessel has told how dozens of people were rescued.

Two Indonesian men, known as Boy Djara and Juthen, are on trial in Perth's District Court charged with being part of the crew of the rickety fishing boat that sank 160km north of Christmas Island in June 2012.

More than 100 of the 210 passengers aboard died.

Lt Commander Jonathan Tha, the captain of the HMAS Larrakia, described how he spotted the men.

One of them was crew member Juthen, who told the crew he had been paid five million rupiah to make the journey.

The trial continues.