NEW IRELAND RECORDS AN INCREASE IN BOAT ACCIDENTS

By Rebecca MARIGU, Kavieng

New Ireland province has seen an increase in the reported number of boat accidents in the last 6 months.

The increase has seen a record of 11 banana boats and fishing vessel.

This is according to Papua New Guinea Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (PNGMRCC) and the New Ireland Provincial Disaster Office (NIP DO) records.

Of the Eleven incidents that were reported in the last 6 months, 10 are banana boats and 1 fishing vessel that was grounded near Emmirau-Mussau Island.

Mostly, the banana boat incidents involve capsizing or drifting due to mechanical faults or fuel shortage.

The two (2) main institutions PNGMRCC and NIPDO has now joined forces and have appealed to the travelling public to follow basic safety rules including; appropriate weather conditions for travelling, equipped with safety gears, having enough water and no overloading of passengers.

Meantime, 2 children have died and 2 men are still missing between the waters of Namatanai and Lihir Island following a 23-foot banana boat that capsized recently, according to reports.

With banana boats being the main mode of sea transport for many communities, authorities, the PNGMRCC and NIP Disaster Office continue to call on the public to make maritime a mundane habit in order to prevent future tragedies.

This also indicates the need to raise interactive awareness in the province

New Ireland is a maritime Province with majority of its population are living in the coastal areas and off-shore islands which means sea transport is the main mode of transport.