Abau acquires boat

COFFEE and rubber growers within the Amazon area in Central province, can now bring their cash crops to markets, thanks to a cargo vessel recently acquired by Abau district.
Worth K900,000, mv Abau is the first vessel owned by the district for use by the people of Amazon Bay local level government (LLG) area and East Cloudy Bay who rely heavily on sea transport to move their produce.
The vessel is capable of carrying 20 tonnes of cargo alongside 30 to 40 passengers.
It was launched last week at Kapari village by Deputy Prime Minister Sir Puka Temu who is the Abau MP.
Sir Puka said with business opportunities expanding within the district, there was a need for a vessel to support the rural people in hauling their produce to markets in the city.
The vessel will be used by coffee and rubber growers within the Amazon Bay LLG, adding the boat will also be used to ferry passengers or cargo to Alotau.
The vessel’s current fare for the standard route from Magarida to Kupiano is K50 per person, while Alotau to Kupiano via Magarida is K100.
Last March, mv Abau ferried 30 bags of coffee from Magarida to Kupiano station, which were delivered to Port Moresby markets.
Sir Puka also thanked the National Government for making it possible for him as Abau MP to acquire the vessel through increased government funding in the rural areas.
MV Abau was purchased last March from Nako Fisheries in Milne Bay through money from district funds.
The vessel would be managed by Abau Development Corp, a business arm of the Abau district administration.