Ship Handover
Anthony Kaybing
180814

The shipping woes of the people in the New Guinea Islands will soon be at an end following the official handover of MV Chebu on Sunday to the Bougainville Government.
MV Chebu is part of the newly created Chebu Shipping Company, a joint venture between the Autonomous Bougainville Government and Hakau Investments Limited, a subsidiary of businesses owned by local Businessman, Sir Henry Chow.
ABG President Chief Dr John Momis has described the new ship as the biggest impact project undertaken by the ABG to date following the Bougainville Crises.
“This ship is something all Bougainvilleans can be proud of as it shows our willingness to progress and reconstruct Bougainville,” President Momis said.
“I would also like to thank all those responsible for making the ship a reality especially the ABG official, Hakau investment and the Shunhai Ship Building Company in Guangdong Province China for building the vessel,” the President said.
After viewing the vessel the President and Sir Henry were mutually happy with its completion and its specifications as it suits the maritime needs of the people
The initial idea for the vessel was conceived by President Momis and Sir Henry following the ill-fated MV Rabaul Queen that capsized off the coast of the Morobe Province and saw nearly 300 lives tragically lost in 2012.
The President also revealed that after consulting Sir Henry they have decided to purchase another vessel for the Chebu Shipping Company in the near future.
The vessel has been built to specifications suitable for Papua New Guinea and will carry at 370 passengers including the crew and offers the latest in maritime technology that will guarantee safe passage for those wishing to travel the route.
The K15 million vessel has also been designed to meet National Maritime Safety Authority regulations such as proper safety equipment for each passengers and creature comforts including flat screen televisions in the main seating area and cabins and life jackets for every passenger and crew.
MV Chebu will be travelling the New Guinea Islands route from Buka, Rabaul, Kimber and Lae, a very lucrative route that has not been serviced since the tragic Rabaul Queen.

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Comments

[Alexander Pinoko]

thank you very much as I'm the one of the traveler in 2012 by mv rabaul queen from buka to Rabaul,I send my very thanks to ABG for the good support for the citizens of AROB aspersedy the student of Bougainville to travel go to institution in PNG,,

[Chanel]

I agree entirely with this Joint Venture. No body should try to score any political points over this enterprise which is a purely economic one.

Sir Chow of course is no stranger to shipping or Bougainville for that matter. His family owned and operated Coastal Shipping Ltd, a company which served the NGI and Bougainville prior to and during the crisis. The company became one of the many innocent business entities that suffered get loss during the crisis. One of their ships was burnt by the BRA in the port of Kieta.

I hear that some some ex-combatant commander has questioned the shareholding in the venture. My advice to him and the likes of him is to shut up and turn his gun into a grass knife or a cocoa pruner and if he can find it in his heart, perhaps he can reconcile with Sir Henry and pay him compensation for his innocent loss. That would not be too hard given the millions he and his cohorts have gained from scrap metal.

And finally, I again agree entirely with Joseph on the need to bring in institutions of higher learning and technical colleges into the Region for while everything else is important we will not progress in this modern world without an educated, moral and wise citizenry. We are not short of intelligence - we have an over supply of that. However, intelligence is of no benefit without godly wisdom and morality.

[josep]

Dear all,
For a change there is something good to be proud about... this is good partnership,,, the ship will serve BVILLE well,,,, including other paying customers,,,,

this is the type of partnership that must be welcome...Now let us craft another partnership for one or two colleges and a university on BVILLE,,,, finally I have something good to cheer and write on this blog

[tonymalamo]

Yes Bougainvilleans should all be proud and the ship (MV CHEBU) will surely help with traveling between the NGI region and part of the mainland of PNG

Cheers and Salute to all our leaders

TMalamo