Manalos Aviation announced it has stood down from the recovery mission for those missing between Pidgeon Island and Kokopo.
Its Chief Executive Officer, Captain Jurgen Ruh, stated that the medical evacuation helicopter company can no longer transport the bodies due to their state of decomposition.
Manalos Aviation was brought into the search and recovery mission on Monday and has assisted in spotting the capsized boat and transporting the first three bodies.
Late last night, five more bodies were retrieved in New Ireland Province on two separate islands southwest of Kavieng town, bringing the total number of recovered bodies to eight.
The first two bodies, believed to be those of a mother and daughter, washed up on Djaul Island, located southwest of Kavieng town, at separate times on Tuesday, July 21.
With Manalos stepping down, the next possible option to transport the remaining bodies to East New Britain would be via the sea and through the same passage the bodies drifted through.
Following the news of the bodies recovered on Tuesday (July 21), the New Ireland disaster officer and local communities joined the recovery search and located the third body late yesterday evening.
Police in East New Britain (ENB) have confirmed that 26 people went missing, not the initially reported 27. Of the 26, four are employees of the East New Britain Provincial Health Authority who travelled with their spouses and children.
It is understood a well-known tour operator from the Duke of York Islands is among those missing.
The two boat skippers are the only survivors who managed to swim ashore after the boat capsized near Pidgeon Island and alerted people at Baai village of the mishap.
The boat skippers were interviewed by police the next day and stated that the group departed Pangpang Island at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 18, bound for Kokopo when rough seas struck. A sudden upswell lifted one boat’s stern, causing it to capsize and throw all occupants into the water.
The second boat attempted a rescue but became unstable as survivors tried to climb aboard, leading to its capsizing as well. Strong currents and poor visibility quickly separated the survivors. The two men eventually drifted to Baai Village, where they were rescued six hours later.
Authorities stated that no other vessels were involved and dismissed speculation of piracy. The tragedy was caused solely by hazardous sea conditions, strong winds, and powerful currents.
Earlier this week, East New Britain Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Amanda Kates, stated to locals at the Kokopo Wharf that the search and rescue mission had turned into a recovery mission, given it was over two days since the group was reported missing.
“What that means is we are looking for deceased, and I want to put that very plainly that it has been two days and it is looking grim,” Kates said earlier this week.
A ward councillor from the Duke of York Islands was also involved in the initial search, but maritime agencies stated that due to the strong currents and wind directions, those missing have been washed up into the Bismarck Sea.
As of last night, a child’s body was among the five newly recovered bodies.