‘Black ship’ probe begins

The National Main Stories

By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
THE nine crew members of the unregistered foreign vessel intercepted by a PNG Navy ship in waters off New Ireland on Saturday will be charged with illegal entry, an official says.
Police are also investigating whether the crew members had been involved in illegal activities such as drug-smuggling because they could not find any equipment on board to suggest that it is a fishing vessel.
A crew member was shot after the vessel failed to stop when ordered to by the captain and officers of the HMPNGS Moresby.
He is recovering at the Kavieng Hospital where he was admitted after the vessel was escorted there by the PNG naval ship.
Only one of the nine crew members could speak English and only two had passports.
Immigration and Border Security Minister Westly Nukundj said the nine crew members would be charged with illegal entry as they did not have any legal documents allowing them entry into PNG.
Teams from Police, Navy, Customs, National Fisheries Authority and Immigration are conducting investigations in Kavieng.
Acting Deputy Police Commissioner Operations Donald Yamasombi said it was a “black ship implicated in cocaine smuggling”.
He said the vessel was seen with a “commercial fishing vessel in Australian waters” and was escaping into PNG waters “and now caught”.
Yamasombi could not confirm whether the vessel had been involved in suspicious activities earlier in Milne Bay province.
“I have no knowledge of this boat’s involvement in Milne Bay, except that it’s a black ship,” he said.
He said white powder found on the vessel would be sent for testing.
New Ireland Governor Sir Julius Chan who was in Kavieng thanked the 25-man crew of the HMPNGS Moresby led by Captain Nathan Tombe for their brave action in intercepting and impounding the foreign vessel.
Captain Tombe told Sir Julius that the vessel had refused to stop when they ordered the crew to.
“(We) intercepted the foreign vessel and warned the crew of the ship by bullhorn to stop for inspection,” he said.
“However, the warning was ignored, as were warning shots fired over the bow of the ship. As a result, the HMPNGS Moresby drew alongside the vessel and fired, wounding one crew member.
“The ship pulled up and was ordered to accompany us to Kavieng where it currently is at anchor, with the injured crew member in Kavieng Hospital.”
Defence Force Chief of Staff Captain Phillip Polewara said they were assisting police in the investigations.
Kavieng General Hospital confirmed that the crew member shot was recovering.

13 comments

  • An example of an IUU Vessel.
    IUU – for Illegal Unregulated Unreported Vessel. No Flag, no markings, no documents, mixed crew or slaved crew, etc.

    Check navigation/GPS plotter if any… to retrace vessel movement.

  • The ship should be impounded. Surveyed. If sea worthy it should be auctioned as a coastal trader and registered in PNG by new owner. If not seaworthy then stripped of any items that can be salvaged and sold and funds going to Fisheries Dept.
    The hulk should then be towed to a suitable spot and sunk so that it can become an artificial reef for the tourist trade.
    Maximize your good fortune.

  • You are right yende. Authorities should get to the bottom of this. Let no one go if they found to have broken any laws of the country.

  • Thanks alot our png DF water patrol team, job well done! MAY THE GOD OF ISRAEL N PNG PROTECT YOU N BE WITH YOU FOREVER!

  • PNG, especially coastal areas including islands and island provinces are invisible hot spots as ‘ports of congregation’ for illegal activities esp.drug smuggling at international level.. we see ships, plane recently and not long will spot submarines.. png is a heaven for world class drug dealers.

  • This is the harvest period for Sea cucumber and our seafood is of very high grade when handled and prepared well. More patrols and monitoring by our navy. Our people must not be fooled into giving away their sweat at very low price. And sink the ship after the investigation and repatriate the seafarers.

  • Well done to the Navy!!!. PNG government wake up and start buying better patrol boats.

  • This is only a tip of the ice burg. Folks like Sir J should have a better idea by now having been in corridors of Waigani long enough to understand about the security situation this country is faced with than and now. While we jump up and down in the midst of the hype of catching a foreign vessel with all the signs of criminality, the issue that should be of gravest concern to leaders is the ease international criminal activities are taking place within this country. What are the national security issues at stake for this country and how is it to be addressed? That’s what the media and people like Sir J should be addressing.. To start with I say, get better Boats from China and forget the Navy TOY boats from Australia who only want to dominate us and make PNG rely on on every single thing including for food.

  • Congratulations to all, this is a shipping matter and committed using a seagoing craft, there are other issues of concern which another Authority should investigate.
    National Maritime Safety Authority should be involved and investigate operational as well as administrative issues for non compliance which should lead to criminal charges. Their forums include TMOU and APCIS where countries participate in inspecting, reporting, monitoring and controlling sub standard shipping and their illegal owners and operators. They should by coordination with their partners be able to identify this craft and their owners/agents.

  • Ahahahaaaa………. thanks to the PNG Naval Team for the job well done. Now I suggest the authority sink this boat as a lesson to other illegal fishing boats in future.

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