Sinking Of The M.V Rabaul Queen - One Of PNG's Worst Disasters

Ships and small boat disasters is common in Papua New Guinea. Many lives have been lost at sea in all the maritime provinces of the country.

The news of the sinking of M.V Rabaul Queen in heavy seas off Pontification Point in the Vitiaz Street, between Finschaffen and Siassi Islands in the Morobe Province is yet another one of Papua New Guinea’s worst disasters. My heart saddens at the loss of many lives. Having lost family members in boat accidents, the news of the M.V Rabaul Queen brought back those painful memories. I said a silent prayer in my heart with tearful eyes for the 229 people, mostly students returning to school, out of the more than 350 who were onboard the M.V Rabaul Queen.

First, the memory of the sinking of M.V Simbang in September 1991 where I lost two of my classmate. Twenty four (24) lives were lost up further from the M.V Rabaul Queen disaster when a huge wave capsized and sank the 59-foot ship owned by the Lutheran Shipping (LUSHIP).

There were myths about the sinking M.V Simbang. It was said that the ship was the oldest of the LUSHIP fleet. The first captain who brought it to PNG said that the day he dies, the M.V Simbang will also go down. There were also the myth of the sea god of the Bombongara. When he’s calm, the sea is calm. When he’s angry the sea is rough and angry. Such myths make the people don’t really see that the disaster could have been avoided.

I have travelled on a couple of Star Ships vessels – M.V Rabaul Queen, M.V Kimbe Queen, M.V Solomon Queen – from Lae to Rabaul via Kimbe and direct Lae – Rabaul and from Madang to Rabaul via Kimbe/Bialla, and LUSHIP vessel Mamose Express from Lae to Siassi Islands and back.

The worst rough seas I’ve encountered that I’ve never forgotten was travelling in the Late M.V Rabaul Queen on a New Year. Star Ship vessels berth next to the Lae main wharf. When my ex-husband (Stone), daughter (5 years old) and I arrived, the passenger terminal was already filled to capacity. It was crowded with people with their cargo, noisy, pushing their way to be at the front of the line so that when the security guards open the gate, they would go in quickly and get the best place inside. Those who are late hang out on the deck. There were more than 300 people or so at the terminal.

We departed Lae around 4:00 pm for Rabaul via Kimbe. The sea slept calmly as a lake between Lae and Finschaffen. The happy voices of people sang for the setting sun over the Saruwaged ranges while the evening fires of the Bukawa people danced like fireflies along the shores.

By 8:00 p.m the wind hissed and spat white waves onto the deck of the M.V Rabaul Queen. The further we moved away from Pontification Point (Finschaffen) towards Siassi, the worst it became. The huge waves crashed onto the deck, like a hissing angry snake vomiting its venom. The crew ordered everyone to be seated inside because one could be easily swept off by the heavy huge waves. One could hardly stand or move. People vomited, cried, prayed while the huge waves like the carpenter’s hammer hammered the ship as if to dismantle it joints for 13 hours. Frightened children clung onto their parents while a young man who was playing a local song quickly switched to Voice In The Wind (religious band). The heavy M.V Rabaul Queen was like a piece of paper tossed from side to side. We departed Lae on the 31^st of December so one passenger who had the strength to talk said that we might “go” with the old year. The many thoughts racing through my mind kept me awake. I held my baby close and prayed.

Earlier that night, when we were about to leave the calmer seas, Stone told me we must go further “inside” the boat because when the sea becomes rough around Siassi, the people on the deck outside would all come in and it will be very crowded. Also, we wouldn’t be thrown all over if we are “down below”. We went “inside” and that’s when I couldn’t sleep because I thought it’d be better if we are upstairs because if the huge waves sink the ship, at least we’ll be thrown over-board. The “inside” passenger area can hold up to 50 people and in the case of emergency, getting out would be difficult.

The hours slowly passed until 6:00 a.m. We have passed the Siassi Islands and thought we’ll see land but by 10:00 a.m the next day, there was still no sign of land. It was as if we were going to Manus through the Bismark Sea. By 12:00 noon, we saw Point Talasea and knew we were close to Kimbe. We arrived at Kimbe around 2:30 p.m. After a three-hour stop, we boarded and headed for Rabaul, arriving 6:00 a.m the next day.

1. Overcrowding

Over-crowding in the ship is a direct result of over-loading. If the ship has the capacity to carry 200 passengers then from my experience travelling during peak holiday seasons, the ships are always over-loaded. I doubt if there are checks made to ensure that the ship carries the right number of passengers.

It is a known fact that crew members do backdoor deals for "side money", allowing more people on board even when the ships are full. Thus, the names of passengers on the manifest (if Star Ships does have one) are not all on board.

2. Ship Safety Standards

The National Maritime Safety Authority (NMSA) of PNG is a government statutory authority responsible for undertaking regulatory functions on safety of shipping services (maritime safety) and prevention and control of marine pollution from shipping services in PNG waters for a safe, efficient and environmentally responsible shipping sector. Regular audits should be carried out on passenger ferries to ensure safety regulations are adhered to. Ship owners should not become board members of the authority in order to avoid conflict of interest.

3. Safety Equipment Onboard

I wonder if there are enough life boats and emergency equipment on board these coastal passenger vessels. If the life boats have the capacity to carry only certain number of people then overloading will be a problem in the event of an accident.

4. Failure by the government to provide better service to the people

The Government of Papua New Guinea, through its agencies and politicians have failed to provide better services to the people. There are thousands of lives lost at sea, yet nothing much has been done for 36 years now since Papua New Guinea gained independence. It is about time the government (GoPNG) seriously consider lives being lost at sea thorough boat accidents and put in place safety and control measures.

• Register all vessels and small crafts such as outboard motors.
• Stricter rules and penalties on greedy ship owners whose vessels do not meet safety standards and who do not stop their ships when there’s bad weather.
• Stricter penalties for overloading.
• Adequately funded and effective disaster and emergency rescue centers in all maritime provinces that operates 24/7.
• Regular period audits of passenger ferries and companies who own them to ensure safe of vessels.
• Assist companies who want to provide better passenger ferrying services when they start. Sometimes in 2007 or 2008, a Mt Hagen-based company (Wamp Nga Holdings Ltd) entered into a joint-venture with an overseas shipping company and brought onshore one of the best biggest local passenger vessel which they named M.V Milne Bay. The M.V Milne Bay made some runs Pom-Lae-Pom and Lae-Rabaul (via Kimbe). There were news reports that when the ship went to Kimbe, they were refused re-fuelling and the owners / agents of Star Ships made life difficult for the company to operate in the region and PNG. Facing this stiff opposition, the company did not continue. The fares for POM-Lae via Alotau and Oro Bay was K200.00, making it very affordable for ordinary Papua New Guineas to travel by sea on a bigger vessel.

I pray that God grant peace and comfort to those who lost their loved ones in the sinking of the M.V Rabaul Queen disaster. And to those who didn’t make it - R.I.P.