PNG Ports rescues survivors after 5-hour ordeal at sea

Swift response by PNG Ports Corporation Limited [PNG Ports] has saved the life of a nine-year-old girl who was stranded at sea for over five hours off the coast of Salamaua, Morobe Province.

She was among a group of four that was en route to Lae from Morobe Patrol Post when their boat capsized at around 6pm last Tuesday. On board were the skipper, a young man, and a mother with her daughter.

When the boat overturned, three clung to the floating vessel while the young man swam for four hours, against tides, to reach an anchored ship, Western Queen, to call for help.

Chief Executive Officer of PNG Ports, Neil Papenfus, said the Pilotage team, who was on standby for vessel movements that night, picked up the SOS via radio communication from MV Western Queen at 10:50pm and immediately responded.

“By 11:00pm, our Coxswain, John Suki; Marine Pilot, Captain Joseph Wakam; marine engineer, Eliphaz Waninumbo; and seaman, Clark Narara; were on their way on board our new pilot boat Morobe, while marine pilot, Charles Kendo remained to coordinate the search and rescue from land with the Operations team,” said Mr Papenfus.

“With the aid of the pilot boats’ state-of-the-art navigational equipment and search lights, the survivors were located within 10 minutes and rescued using the modern man-overboard system.”

“Upon receiving confirmation of the successful rescue, Japhet, an Executive Security Systems guard called the National St Johns Ambulance Service via the toll-free 111 number, reporting the incident at 11:30pm. An ambulance crew was dispatched to Lae Port to await the survivors' arrival.”

“The Pilot Boat arrived at Lae Port at 12:24 am to drop off the first three and then returned to Western Queen at anchorage, to pick up the other survivor,” he said.

According to the ambulance officers, Othniel Ezra Wohuifia and Gai Amini, the four survivors were alert, conscious, and in stable condition, though they were suffering from hypothermia due to prolonged exposure to cold water.

The ambulance officers monitored the survivors until their body temperatures normalized and then handed them over to PNG Ports for further care and drop-off arrangements.

Mr Papenfus commended PNG Ports’ Lae team, as well as the Master and crew of Western Queen, St Johns Ambulance, and port workers present that night, whose collective roles ensured that the lives were saved.