Defiance of prior awareness and safety warnings, issued by local authorities to banana boat owners and skippers, has resulted in a speedboat capsizing outside Tabalip Point, between the Raicoast and Madang seas yesterday morning, Madang Police has reported.
The vessel was travelling from Siar Village in Madang to Kimbe, carrying seven passengers and 30 bags of betel nut.
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5 passengers were rescued but the skipper and the owner are still missing at sea.
Madang Provincial Police Commander, Acting Superintendent Robert Baim, expressed frustration over the sea mishap that occurred between Raicoast and Madang District.
The incident occurred yesterday at around 6am, when a 40-horsepower banana boat departed Siar Village, Madang, bound for Kimbe. The boat encountered rough seas and capsized outside Tabalip Point. Survivors reported that all passengers were in the water from the time of the incident until they were rescued. A passing passenger boat from Madang rescued five survivors and brought them ashore near Basamuk at around 3pm. They were later transported to the Basamuk MCC Company Clinic for medical treatment. The skipper and the boat owner remain missing and are believed to be drifting toward Bagabag or Long Island. Search and rescue operations are ongoing with local authorities.
“I am deeply frustrated by the continued disregard for safety advisories and warnings issued by the National Maritime Authority, the National Weather Office, and the Madang Water Police,” Superintendent Baim said. “Despite repeated alerts and public outreach, too many people are willing to expose themselves to unnecessary risk by undertaking non-essential travel in rough conditions. My water police officers operate with limited resources, PPE, and manpower. Police are human beings like you and me; I cannot send them out to rescue people when we are under-resourced in PPE and equipment.”
Ongoing search and rescue efforts are focused on the seas around Bagabag and Long Island, he said.
He said survivors are receiving medical care at the Basamuk MCC Company Clinic, and further updates will be provided as they become available.
A formal investigation, he said, will be conducted to determine the circumstances of the incident, including compliance with safety regulations, availability of safety equipment, and adherence to weather advisories.
Superintendent Baim urged all maritime operators to ensure vessels are seaworthy and properly equipped with life jackets and safety gear, and that crews are trained to respond to emergencies.
He also called on passengers to heed weather warnings and avoid non-essential travel during rough conditions.
“This is a matter of life and death,” he said. “I urge boat operators, passengers, families, and communities to respect and act on official advisories.
“We appreciate the public’s cooperation in providing information to assist with search efforts and in avoiding unnecessary risks that endanger both passengers and responders.”