Locals from nearby island villages off the coast of Port Moresby have interfered and delayed the process of destroying the two illegal Vietnamese fishing vessels.
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.
The team went again this morning for another assessment but noted locals have already gone on board and started stripping off timber, making it difficult for towing.
Fisheries officer Mark Bangkoma said this has made it difficult for them to complete the operation ordered by the courts.
“We might just take the skeleton of the boats out and destroy them but at the moment we can’t do much.
“The Pacific Towing service that we have engaged to carry out final assessment will do a report on the state of the vessels,” he stated.
“The team went out again today to do a final assessment to see if we can take the remaining of the vessels out to dispose them.
“Their experts will do a report and recommendations on what we should do next,” Bangkoma said.
The vessels were used by 50 Vietnamese fishermen who were caught fishing illegally in PNG waters off Budibidi Island, Milne Bay Province, on December 22, 2016.
Pictures courtesy of Pacific Towing