Karkar boat missing at sea with 11 people onboard
Search and rescue teams are still out at sea in Madang frantically trying to locate a missing dinghy with eleven people onboard.
The incident occurred just a day after students from the PNG Maritime College carried out a public awareness at the Bates Oval in Madang Town on the safety of small crafts and the need for people to start adhering with safety regulations stipulated in the Small Craft Act.
The 23- footer boat departed Kubugam boat stop on the north coast for Karkar Island at 6 pm yesterday, but never reached its destination.
Passengers on the boat raised an alarm through a video footage, which they captured on a mobile phone around 7 pm when the boat's engine, a 60hp, encountered problems and it started taking in water from the high seas.
Relatives on the island upon receiving the message immediately organised and dispatched search parties last night.
Search and rescue efforts are continuing today.
Benson Taur, a community leader from Dumad Village, where the missing boat is from, relayed the distress message through NBC Madang last night on the station's community message segment, calling on coastal villagers along the north coast, Manam Island and Bogia to be on the lookout for the missing boat and its passengers.
Amongst the passengers were two females.
According to Mr Taur, the boat was also carrying cement bags and other building materials for the new South Karkar LLG chamber and may have been overloaded.
Meanwhile, Captain Carl Kamang of the National Maritime Safety Authority [NMSA] office in Madang said on Friday, during an awareness session, that ignorance of basic safety regulations is the number one cause of mishaps at sea.
"NMSA and other relevant authorities continue to conduct awareness on safety at sea, even before the Small Craft Act became a law in 2011. But ignorance by boat owners, operators, and even passengers is a big issue. They don't listen to the advice we give. They are simply ignorant, and that is why they will continue to face problems at sea.
According to statistics released by the Provincial Disaster Director for Madang, Rudolph Mongalee; on Friday, during the awareness, Karkar and Bagabag islands account for 50 per cent of the boating incidences that occur in Madang waters.
Mr Mongalee stated that the statistics reflect the level of ignorance by seafarers from the two islands.
He also reiterated the need for people to comply with the weather reports that are provided daily by the National Weather Service.
Madang Province is continuing to experience rough and high seas.
The Office of the Member for Sumkar is fully aware of the situation and is actively involved in the ongoing search and rescue efforts.
The MV Suguman, Sumkar DDA's vessel; has been deployed to assist with the search operation, while a drone is also being used to conduct aerial surveillance and cover areas that may be difficult to access from the sea.
The MP's office remains in close contact with the relevant authorities and communities as the operation continues.
Every available resource is being utilised to assist in locating the missing boat and people.
The office will provide further updates as verified information becomes available.