NMSA warns of unsafe boating practices - Papua New Guinea National Maritime Safety Authority

The National Maritime Safety Authority (NMSA) has strongly warned small boat owners and operators to be more responsible and practice safety first at sea, especially during this campaign period leading up to the 2022 National General Elections.

NMSA Chief Executive Officer, Paul Unas issued this warning and said small boat owners, operators and passengers in the maritime provinces must exercise some responsibility and comply with sea safety measures including, not overloading, carrying extra fuel and not travelling in bad weather.

NMSA reminds governments of the 15 maritime provinces of their responsibility to ensure a high-level maritime safety is enforced on people who rely on the sea for their livelihood and sustenance.

These provinces must take full responsibility and ownership to ensure the Small Craft Act (SCA) 2011 is effectively implemented and administered to improve and promote sea safety for small boat owners, operators and passengers, especially those who use the sea as their main way of transportation.

Mr Unas said: “The maritime provinces have that responsibility under the law and for practical purposes.  He said each maritime province has different circumstances and needs that require local solutions. Therefore, it is appropriate and right that it is the maritime provinces that tailor maritime safety and regulation solutions that are best suited for their communities and waters.

Mr Unas said: “No matter what laws and standards are put in place, people will continue to be lost at sea if dinghies continue to be overloaded, run out of fuel, travel in bad weather, consumption of alcohol by boat operators or passengers, etc. These bad decisions that directly cause loss of life at sea are not made by remote government officials, but by the operators of the dinghies and the passengers who decide to travel with them.”

Mr Unas further reiterated that failure to comply with sea safety measures can result in severe penalties under the Small Craft Act.

He said: “These apply to all boat owners, operators and passengers. If anyone is caught breaching this Act, necessary penalties will be applied accordingly.”

Mr Unas encouraged everyone in the maritime provinces to embrace maritime safety and practise sea safety before anything else when going out to sea, especially during this period.