Nearly four weeks after an Australian-gifted patrol boat ran aground on a reef, the Vanuatu government has yet to disclose details of the incident, saying only that “an investigation is continuing.”
The lack of clarity has prompted calls from the opposition and local NGOs for greater transparency, as experts warn that recovery and repair costs could run into the millions.
The Guardian-class patrol boat RVS Takuare, valued at around $25 million, struck a reef off South Epi about 120km north of Port Vila on October 5 while transporting a senior government minister and staff to regional events. The vessel had only returned to Vanuatu in March after undergoing major repairs in Australia following severe damage during Cyclone Kevin in 2023.
After remaining stuck on the reef for weeks, the vessel was eventually freed and towed to the capital with assistance from the Australian Defence Force and a private tugboat contractor. On Wednesday, it was lifted from the water in preparation for transport back to Australia for further repairs.
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