This project set out to replace a damaged motor in the Kaibola Village fishing / rescue boat.
In 2018, 3 Rotarians purchased a dinghy and outboard motor for a village on Kiriwina Island to use to provide protein food for 400 people. The boat has also been used as a rescue boat. Many of the people on Kiriwina use dugout canoes which can be swept out to sea if the weather conditions change. This dinghy has been used to save 28 lives to date. This project is to supply a replacement motor. The original motor was destroyed by the use of the wrong fuel for the motor. This was the responsibility of the Fuel Depot at Kiriwina. Unfortunately, due to the community customs and for the sake of tribal peace, there is no way to force the depot to pay compensation for the supply of the incorrect fuel.
The club received a phone call requesting help to replace the motor.
The people of Kiriwina especially those who live in the north of the island and are furthest away from the Government Station (Town) were rescue facilities are located.
The project will not only see a new motor supplied, but will also see the implementation of fuel management training to prevent a similar situation occurring in the future.
A number of lives will continue to be saved. The availability of Protein will be increased for those villages that do not have active fishermen in their community.
As has been evidenced in the past, the rescue boat will be used to provide life saving services to the many fishermen in the area that use dug-out canoes to undertake their almost daily fishing activities. Our club is in constant contact with the Village ensuring that the outcomes of the original Kiriwina Aid Project are sustained, and the facilities are maintained. This contact includes information regarding the operation of the rescue boat and its use into the future. The boat operator is a very reliable person who is held in high regard in the community. We are also including new life jackets and assistance with the supply of fuel.
Requests for quotations for a new boat motor were received. The first quotation was for a 40HP motor and the second was for a 60HP motor. Although the original estimate was for a 40HP motor it was thought it would be safer if we supplied a motor that was the same power as the failed motor. It was determined that it would be safer for the rescue boat to have the more powerful motor when it was being used in rough seas and dangerous situations. This changed the funds required from $8000 to $11,000. The extra funding came from another Rotary Club and personal donations.
Once the project was approved the 60HP motor was ordered from Ela Motors PNG (Alotau Branch)
We received advice that the motor was at Alotau then our Project Manager, Emanual Tosiyeru left his village in the north of the island and travelled to the main town to wait for a boat to take him to Alotau. Emanuel waited 7 days before a boat arrived. He then arrived at Alotau 3 days later after having to travel in a dinghy for the last 150kms of the trip because of a change in the original boat plans.
Emanuel picked up the motor, safety pack and a drum of fuel then had to wait for a boat to take him back to Kiriwina from Alotau. It took 3 attempts before he found a boat that agreed to take him back. The first two boats initially agreed to take him and his freight but cancelled him due to boat loading restrictions.
After two weeks of waiting Emanuel finally boarded a boat for the 2-day trip back to Kiriwina. Once he arrived in Kiriwina he had to arrange for a truck to take him back to the north where his village and the rescue boat is located.
The Fuel, freight, food and accommodation came to a total of $1,700.00. Emanual was away from his family for over 3 weeks.
