Seafarers warned to heed safety regulations

By GYNNIE KERO
THE National Maritime Safety Authority (NMSA) has warned maritime provinces to exercise responsibility by complying with sea safety regulations – as four people remain missing at sea after a boat accident.
NMSA general manager and chief executive Paul Unas issued the warning yesterday after an incident in Wewak, East Sepik, in which a boat carrying five people capsized – with only one survivor so far.
The banana boat was ferrying the five passengers from Wewak to Madang.
It capsized at the mouth of the Sepik River (Kopar) on Feb 13.
Wewak MP and Inter-Government Relations Minister Kevin Isifu yesterday said he had been made aware that four people were still missing at sea.
He has paid for the fuel for authorities to continue the search.
Unas said no matter what laws and standards were put in place, “people will continue to be lost at sea if dinghies continue to be overloaded, run out of fuel, travel in bad weather, alcohol is consumed by boat operators or passengers”.
“These bad decisions cause the loss of lives at sea,” he said.
“They are not made by government officials but by the operators of the dinghies and the passengers who decide to travel.”
Unas said each maritime province faced different circumstances which needed local solutions.
“Therefore, it is appropriate and right that maritime provinces tailor maritime safety and regulation solutions which best suit their communities and waters,” he said.
He said failure to comply with sea safety measures could result in severe penalties under the Small Craft Act.