Madang Provincial Police Commander (PPC), Acting Superintendent Robert Baim, has expressed deep frustration and issued a stern warning to maritime operators following a tragic sea mishap between Raikos and the Madang District.
The incident, which occurred early Saturday morning, resulted in a boat capsizing, leaving several passengers injured and two individuals still missing at sea.
This reflects the facts as they are known to date and convey a strong message regarding safety, accountability, and the actions expected of all maritime operators and the public.
On the morning of January 17, 2026, at approximately 6:00 AM, a 40-horsepower banana boat departed Madang, Siar village bound for Kimbe, carrying seven passengers and more than 30 bags of betel nuts.
Upon encountering rough seas outside Tabalip Point, the overloaded vessel capsized. Survivors remained in the water for nearly nine hours until a passing passenger boat rescued five individuals at 3:00 PM.
The survivors were taken to the Basamuk MCC clinic for urgent medical treatment.
Search efforts are currently focused on the waters surrounding Bagabag and Long Island, where it is believed the two may be drifting.
Local authorities continue to coordinate recovery operations despite challenging conditions.
PPC Baim expressed the continued disregard for safety advisories and warnings issued by the National Maritime Authority, national weather office and the Madang Water Police.
Despite repeated alerts and public outreach, too many people appear willing to subject themselves and respond to unnecessary risk through non-essential voyages in rough conditions.
“My water police officers operate with finite resources, funding, and manpower, and the tragedy we witnessed underscores the consequences of ignoring official guidance and weather advisories.”
“Police are human beings like you and I; I cannot send them out to rescue you when we are under-resourced with funding and equipment,” said PPC Baim, underscoring the strain on responders and the imperative to act prudently.
Ongoing search and rescue operations are coordinated with local authorities, focusing on the seas around Bagabag and Long Island where the missing skipper and owner are believed to be.
Meanwhile, the survivors are receiving medical attention at Basamuk MCC company clinic in which further medical updates will be provided as they become available.
In addition, a formal investigation will be conducted to determine the circumstances leading to the incident, including compliance with safety regulations, adequacy of safety equipment, and adherence to weather advisories.
“Every maritime operator must ensure the vessel is seaworthy, life jackets and safety gear are available and functional, and that the crew is trained to respond to emergencies.”
“Passengers should heed weather warnings, avoid non-essential travel when conditions are poor, and inform local authorities of intended routes and schedules.”
Moreover, PPC Baim stated that officials and responders will continue to monitor conditions, allocate resources prudently, and prioritize saving lives while protecting our Officers.
“I urge all stakeholders, boat operators, passengers, families, and communities to respect and act on official advisories.”
“This is a matter of life and death, and it is everyone’s responsibility to act prudently.”
“We appreciate the cooperation of the public in providing information to assist with searches and in safeguarding our responders by avoiding interference and unnecessary risks.”
