A boat from Baluan Island, which left Loniu Bridge in Lorengau Town late on Friday night that never made in to back Baluan Island, was found with all its passengers and crew safe and sound.
After receiving words from families at Baluan Island that the boat never arrived on the island last night, Mr. Bab Korup, the person behind the search and rescue team, sent out alert message and called for a search party.
Mr. Korup said a search party was sent out this morning to find the missing boat, however they received words that the boat was found on Lawes Island just south of the main land.
“The boat never went missing. Due to bad weather condition the skipper decided to pull up on Lawes Island where the passengers and the skipper and his crew spent the night”.
Mr. Korup said it was a smart move by the skipper that prevented what could have been a disaster. Mr. Korup assured family and friends that everyone is safe and they have continued on their journey this morning and have reached Baluan Island.
Mr Korup is appealing to all skippers to stop overloading their dinghies and also to stop the normal routine of travelling in the evenings through into the night.
“Weather is bad, and overloading and travelling by night can only lead to accidents at sea and even worse, “said Mr.Korup.
He urged everyone travelling during this bad weather to take refuge on nearest island villages if the weather is really bad and also to travel by day so it’s easy to see clearly where to go for help in the middle of the ocean in times of danger.