Pacific Towing

Crew on the tug Yomba came across the adrift vessel and its passengers 36 nautical miles north-east of Madang and 15 nautical miles south-east of Bagabag Island.  

All 14 passengers were taken on board and given food, hot showers and most importantly, safe passage to Madang.

The destruction of the vessels was ordered by the Bomana District Court after the boats were caught fishing illegally off Budibidi Island, Milne Bay Province, on December 22.

The National Fisheries Authority (NFA) is in charge of the destruction operation, planned to be carried out by the PNGDF Navy's explosive ordinance and diving team.

It’s been over a week since the initial destruction operation failed to push through due to bad weather.

The destruction was organised by the National Fisheries Authority and planned to be carried out by the PNGDF Navy's explosive ordinance and diving team.

They were towed out of Fairfax Harbour on Monday by the PNG Defence Force Navy vessel, HMPNGS Buna, to a sinking site outside Port Moresby.

However, due to bad weather, they were left on a reef off the coast of Fisherman Island.

A team consisting of naval personnel, fisheries officers and external clients, Pacific Towing service, was sent out the next day to do a preliminary assessment of the situation.