Shipping vessel saves stranded students

Nine students from Morobe Secondary School in Huon Gulf district were rescued at sea by a South Sea Lines ship on Tuesday after the dinghy they were travelling in ran out of fuel.

The eight boys and a girl were in the boat with the skipper and two passengers in the waters of Labu (sea between Salamaua and Lae) when rescued and are now in Lae.

The students said they left school on Tuesday morning because of a school fight and were heading to Lae from the Morobe Patrol Post.

Grade Nine student and one of the survivors Samuel Charles, 19, said that the skipper lost track of direction due to heavy rain.

When the clouds cleared we realised that we were heading in the wrong direction. The skipper then turned for Lae but the fuel was not enough to reach Lae

Samuel Charles, 19 – Grade 9 student and survivor of ordeal

He said the boat stopped along the Labu area and they floated aimlessly on the sea awaiting help.

Charles said they were afloat at Labu for more than four hours.

Captain of the South Sea Lines ship Kwila 3, Misaele Mute, who rescued the students, said that about 8am yesterday the students paddled to where they were anchored and raised the alarm, asking for help.

On Tuesday we anchored at Labu anchorage after departing South Sea Lines base in Lae awaiting our other ship Kwila 1 to come anchor so that we can depart for Salamaua

South Sea Lines ship Kwila 3 Captain, Misaele Mute

He said while they were at Labu dock the students paddled to them asking for help.

The boat that the students travelled in ran out of fuel on their way from Morobe Patrol Post to Lae. They paddled and the current took them to where we were anchored in Labu

Captain Mute

The only female survivor, Fredah Mileng, said she was thankful with the management of SSL for their kindness and rescuing her and the other students.

According to SSL management, life was important, and rescuing the students did not disturb their operations.

“Our manager directed us to cancel other schedules for the day and bring the students back to Lae safely,” said a company representative.

The company’s human resource representative is urging local boat operators to be careful while out at sea or going out.

“Such incidents are avoidable if small operators consider weather carefully while running boats or dinghies at sea,” he said.

All nine students and the two passengers were brought back to Lae safely and were handed over by SSL staff to the provincial disaster and emergency representatives to arrange for their travel home yesterday.