Police at Gizo in Western Province have rescued a white 21 foot banana boat with seven people onboard while drifting between Kolombangara and Gizo Island on Wednesday 03 October 2018 after their engine broke down.
Supervising Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Western Province, Superintendent Cedar Nevol says, “A banana boat powered by a 40 horse engine loaded with cargo and seven passengers left Gizo for Ringi in Kolombangara when its engine developed problems on the way.”
PPC Nevol says, “The passengers onboard included a one-year-old child, two female and four male persons.”
Superintendent Nevol explains: “The boat drifted for almost four hours towards Vella la Vella Island because of the strong wind that was blowing through the channel at that time with some showers when my officers reached them. This was after receiving a call from one of the passengers onboard the boat. Police transported them safely to Gizo.”
She adds: “The child was taken to Gizo Hospital on arrival for medical attention.”
PPC Nevol says, “I call on people using small boats to travel between islands to make sure that your engines are serviced properly and that they are safe to use for your planned journey. I am appealing to all boat operators and skippers to make sure your passengers are provided with some basic safety equipment like life jackets and that you must carry extra paddles, enough fuel and some basic tools for the engine when you travel.”
“I would also like to thank my officers for their professionalism in successfully coordinating the rescue mission,” PPC Nevol adds.