A Sunken Yacht, a Shared Responsibility: Port Moresby’s Maritime Community Responds
A sailing yacht sank in the waters of the Royal Papua Yacht Club (RPYC) in Port Moresby, raising concerns that diesel fuel remaining onboard could leak into the surrounding waters and pose a threat to the marine environment and a navigation hazard. The potential environmental risk prompted a coordinated response from local maritime organisations and experienced volunteers.
Captain Craig de Wit, founder of Olgeta Foundation, approached the Royal Papua Yacht Club offering his extensive maritime expertise and the diving operational capabilities of MV Golden Dawn, to salvage the yacht.
Captain de Wit and the Golden Dawn crew joined forces with Aaron Batts and the Royal Papua Yacht Club team, Bouke Wagenaar, President of the Port Moresby Sub-Aqua Club (POMSAC), the POMSAC team, and Garrick Groot Obbink (volunteer) to undertake the challenging vessel recovery operation.
A sunken vessel can pose significant environmental risks. Fuel, lubricants, batteries and other hazardous materials remaining onboard may contaminate surrounding waters and threaten marine habitats.
According to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), abandoned and sunken vessels can create pollution risks and physical hazards, often requiring specialist equipment, technical expertise and coordinated recovery efforts.
Although there were concerns about a potential diesel leak, no actual fuel release has been confirmed in the information available for this article. The recovery was undertaken to address the sunken vessel and reduce the risk of environmental contamination.
Recovering the yacht was far from simple.
It took days of demanding work, including many hours spent working in the water, before the team could finally lift the sunken sailing yacht.
The operation required patience, determination, practical maritime knowledge and close cooperation among everyone involved.
Olgeta Foundation contributed Captain Craig de Wit's expertise and the capabilities of MV Golden Dawn, while the Royal Papua Yacht Club, POMSAC and other participants worked together towards a common goal.
After days of challenging work, their combined efforts paid off.
The sailing yacht was successfully raised from the water, removed from the marina, and transported away, eliminating the immediate concern of leaving the sunken vessel in place.
The successful recovery demonstrated the value of experience, teamwork and the willingness of individuals and organisations to contribute their time and resources to protecting the local marine environment.
This was not the achievement of a single organisation, but the result of a genuine community effort.
Olgeta Foundation extends its sincere appreciation to
· Aaron Batts and the Royal Papua Yacht Club team;
· Bouke Wagenaar, President of POMSAC;
· Garrick Groot Obbink;
· and Captain Craig de Wit and the MV Golden Dawn crew for their exceptional teamwork, commitment and many hours of hard work.
Their combined efforts highlight the strength of Papua New Guinea's maritime community and demonstrate how cooperation, practical experience and determination can help address environmental challenges.
Marine conservation is not limited to scientific research or large-scale environmental programmes. Sometimes, protecting our oceans begins with recognising a local problem, bringing the right people together and being prepared to undertake the difficult work needed to make a difference.
This successful salvage operation reminds us that protecting our marine environment is a shared responsibility—and that meaningful action often begins with people willing to work together.
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