Atlantic Charger's crew rescued from life-raft in Frobisher Bay

All nine crew members who were aboard a stricken fishing vessel near the mouth of Frobisher Bay in Nunavuthave been rescued from a life-raft and are on board a Danish ship, the Canadian military'sJoint Task Force Atlantic said Monday evening.

The rescuedcrew were on their way to Iqaluit, a journey of about 400 kilometres that will take several hours. The ship, the FV Paamiut, may also have to wait for high tide before the men can be brought ashore.

The crew was on board the Atlantic Charger when it got into trouble earlier Monday.

• Land and Sea: Fishing for a Future: The Atlantic Charger

The owner of the Atlantic Charger, Brad Watkins, saidhe got a call around 1:30 p.m. local time that the ship was taking on water off Resolution Island, nearFrobisher Bay.

The crew spent several hours on a life-raft waiting to be rescued. Earlier Monday, theJoint Rescue Coordination Centre in Halifax said the crew was well-prepared and were in good health.

Several ships in the area headedto the scene.

A Hercules aircraft had dropped a radio and other supplies to the nine people.

Rear-Admiral John Newton of the Canadian Forces told CBC News a storm had blown through Hudson Bay and Baffin Bay, bringing swells as high as six metres earlier in the day. He describedconditions as cold and windy, with a lot of vertical moment.

Newton said the men "are in great spirits and they are happy to be on board."

• Follow CBC North on Facebook for breaking news and updates from across Canada's North

The weather conditions in Iqaluit the nearest community to the ship was1 C and partly cloudy.

The Atlantic Charger was registered in St. John's in 2012.The 20-metre vessel was designed by TriNav Marine Design and built by Val Cull of Northern Boat Building and Repair in Port Saunders, N.L.

Initial reports were that the boat had sunk, but authorities later clarified that the boat was taking on water. Watkins confirmed that the ship is partially submerged.