As authorities fear a new influx of asylum seekers following the political impasse in Australia, two new boats packed with those seeking refuge have arrived at Christmas Island this morning.

One small steel boat with about 44 people aboard - understood to be Sri Lankan - is sitting off the island's small port, Flying Fish Cove, and another sailed across the horizon only minutes ago.

The latest boat, a long, low white and blue fishing boat, appears to be packed with people standing on its deck.

This brings to three the number of boats since Wednesday night when 98 people believed to be Sri Lankan were taken off a vessel still moored in the harbour.

A large Australian naval vessel is standing off after escorting the latest shipload to the island shortly after dawn Christmas Island time.
This follows the rescue of about 110 survivors and the search for another 90 believed drowned between Indonesia and Christmas Island late last week and another rescue far out to sea in which four people are believed to have died on Tuesday.

Christmas Island locals and authorities crowding the island fear a new tide of asylum seekers heading towards the island following the Federal Parliaments failure yesterday to agree on a new formula to deal with the asylum seeker question. (Source: The National Times)