Removal is owner’s duty

By GYNNIE KERO
OWNERS of derelict barges and boats in Madang waters are responsible for funding their removals, according to the National Maritime and Safety Authority (NMSA).
The authority was responding to questions raised by The National on the vessels ownership and the responsibility of their removal from their current location.
These unseaworthy, abandoned and wrecked vessels worth millions of kina were understood to have been purchased using public money and can now be seen on Madang shores among other centres.
Earlier Madang businessman Sir Peter Barter noted the concern saying the rusting relics would pose a serious problem when they sank.
“They will become a further hazard to navigation, and in some cases, this has already happened turning the beautiful inner harbour into a ship graveyard,” Sir Peter said.
“For many years I have attempted to have the large wrecks cleared but to no avail. My suggestion is that they be declared wrecks, hazards for navigation and towed to sea and sunk. Some could serve a purpose for fish breeding or dive sites for tourists, maybe scrap metal but to ignore the threat any longer would be irresponsible.
“My second suggestion is that any new vessel purchased should be inspected by NMSA before being brought into PNG to ensure the company or organisation importing the vessels have the required technical capability and finances to support their maintenance.”
PNG Ports Ltd when contacted earlier said old and abandoned ships which became wrecks were a common sight along the country’s coast and especially at ports causing safety and environmental hazards and had to be removed.
However, senior regulatory and compliance officer Denny Wame said PNG Ports would have to write to the NMSA to produce details of the ship and to identify their owners that PNG Ports would officially write to them advising them to meet the costs of removing their vessels.
The NMSA said the derelict boats and barges in Madang had different owners.
The authority could not specifically say when the wreckages would be removed from the Madang harbour but that it would happen when the paper work for the owners were finalised.