ABG launches four new passenger vessels for Bougainville Atolls
The Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) has officially launched and handed over four custom-built 32-foot passenger vessels to improve transport, safety and access to essential services for Bougainville’s remote atoll communities.
The vessels were handed over by ABG Minister for Fisheries and Member for the Atolls, Hon. Amanda Masono, under a K2.5 million project funded through the Climate Change and Development Authority’s (CCDA) Building Resilience to Climate Change (BRCC) initiative.
The project was developed in response to climate vulnerability assessments conducted in 2021, which identified maritime isolation as a major challenge facing the atoll communities.
The vessels will serve the communities of Fead (Nuguria), Carterets (Tuloun), Mortlock (Takuu) and Tasman (Amotu), providing safer and more reliable transport between the islands and mainland Bougainville.
"For too long, our atoll communities have been on the absolute frontline of the global climate crisis, risking their lives on unpredictable seas," said Minister Masono during her keynote address.
"Today, we declare that our people are not forgotten. This K2.5 million investment translates climate policy into real-world, life-saving mobility."
The vessels are equipped with twin 200-horsepower inboard engines, navigation systems and open-sea safety equipment, enabling them to operate safely in the challenging conditions of Bougainville waters.
They will support emergency medical evacuations, student transportation and the movement of fisheries and agricultural products, improving access to services and economic opportunities for atoll residents.
To ensure immediate operation of the vessels, Minister Masono also oversaw the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement between the CCDA and the ABG Administration.
Under a three-month interim arrangement commencing on 14 June 2026, the ABG Department of Transport and Utilities will serve as the Interim Operating Authority until the finalization of the Bougainville Small Craft Act.
Operations will be managed by a team of 16 trained personnel under a rotational system designed to maintain continuous service delivery and reduce crew fatigue.
Revenue generated through passenger fares and commercial hires will be managed through dedicated Small Craft Revenue and Expenditure accounts administered by the Department of Finance to support the long-term sustainability of the vessels.
"Ownership brings a sacred duty of stewardship," Minister Masono emphasized.
“These are community assets. We must enforce safety manifests, prioritize routine maintenance, and protect these boats so they can protect our children and grandchildren."
Minister Masono also thanked the Climate Change and Development Authority for its partnership and support in delivering the project, describing the investment as a practical example of climate resilience that directly improves the lives of Bougainville’s most vulnerable communities.
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