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MORE than 10 people were rescued by a fishing boat at the Bismarck Sea after their boat was swept away from the shore and into the open sea by strong waves.
Sixteen people, four female and 12 male who were identified as from Aua Island in Madang province were returning back to their island from Wuvulu when their boat was pushed away by huge waves.
The group, who returned from a soccer match with other islanders, was rescued on January 18 at around 2.30pm by F/V Dolores, a fishing boat which belongs to RD Tuna Canners Ltd based in Madang.
The rescued group were offered food and accommodation on board by their rescuers and dropped off the next day near their island where they offered thanks and paddled safely back to their home island.
Meanwhile 14 unidentified people are considered dead after their boat capsized between the waters of Namatanai and Lihir over a week ago. This has prompted officials to issue strong warning to operators of small boats traveling between Namatanai in the New Ireland province and Kokopo in the East New Britain province.
The operators said they were aware of the dangers but still had to get to town to acquire much-needed goods and services.
Many small boat operators in New Ireland met on Thursday and spoke on issues surrounding the safety of passengers travelling on boats.
They resolved that the governments of East New Britain and New Ireland should deal with the following areas to ensure safety of passengers:
That they provide a rescue boat patrolling the waters between Kokopo and the Duke of York Islands, and the villages of Kalil, Raben, Kabanut, Matakan, Bom and Reserik along the west coast of New Ireland where passenger boats service.
That a radio network be set up for boat operators to use when they were out at sea which could be used for communication in times of accidents at sea;
That a system of licensing be set up so that boat operaters get licences to operator a boat because they said anybody can operate a boat; and
That a shelter of some sort be built at the Kokopo beachfront where operators and passengers can sit and wait for boats.
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Sixteen people, four female and 12 male who were identified as from Aua Island in Madang province were returning back to their island from Wuvulu when their boat was pushed away by huge waves.
The group, who returned from a soccer match with other islanders, was rescued on January 18 at around 2.30pm by F/V Dolores, a fishing boat which belongs to RD Tuna Canners Ltd based in Madang.
The rescued group were offered food and accommodation on board by their rescuers and dropped off the next day near their island where they offered thanks and paddled safely back to their home island.
Meanwhile 14 unidentified people are considered dead after their boat capsized between the waters of Namatanai and Lihir over a week ago. This has prompted officials to issue strong warning to operators of small boats traveling between Namatanai in the New Ireland province and Kokopo in the East New Britain province.
The operators said they were aware of the dangers but still had to get to town to acquire much-needed goods and services.
Many small boat operators in New Ireland met on Thursday and spoke on issues surrounding the safety of passengers travelling on boats.
They resolved that the governments of East New Britain and New Ireland should deal with the following areas to ensure safety of passengers:
That they provide a rescue boat patrolling the waters between Kokopo and the Duke of York Islands, and the villages of Kalil, Raben, Kabanut, Matakan, Bom and Reserik along the west coast of New Ireland where passenger boats service.
That a radio network be set up for boat operators to use when they were out at sea which could be used for communication in times of accidents at sea;
That a system of licensing be set up so that boat operaters get licences to operator a boat because they said anybody can operate a boat; and
That a shelter of some sort be built at the Kokopo beachfront where operators and passengers can sit and wait for boats.
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