Ship captain wants maritime provinces to set up boards to prevent tragedies

A SHIP captain says the failure by some maritime provinces to set up their small craft boards as required by law is leading to many sea tragedies.
Charles Buai, pictured, captains mv Carrie, the Ramu NiCo Management (MCC) ferry which had been involved in many sea rescue missions between Rai Coast and Madang.
The latest was the rescue of 17 people whose banana boat travelling from East Sepik sank near Madang.
Buai raised the concern after one of his relatives went missing two weeks ago at sea and had not been found.
Buai said a 23-foot banana boat was carrying six passengers and 17 bags of betel nut between Madang and Manus when it went missing on Jan 30.
It was reported to authorities in Madang.
But he said so far, no search and rescue mission had been arranged to look for the missing boat and its passengers.
“We, the family of the missing persons, are calling on the government of Manus and Madang to set up an appropriate authority to conduct a search for our relatives,” Buai said.
“We are also calling on other neighbouring maritime provinces and people living along the coast of New Guinea and the islands to report any sightings of the missing persons and their boat to us.”
He said the rising cost of living, the increase in the prices of goods, schools fees and other personal needs were forcing people to risk their lives to travel by boats between Madang, Manus and East Sepik to earn money.
Buai said there was no authority in place to monitor or regulate their movements.
Meanwhile, the governors of East Sepik and Madang, Allan Bird and Peter Yama, said they were keen to establish the small craft board soon.