A Hundred Days in Papua New Guinea
(shared anonymously by a cruising sailor)
After clearing out of Taro in the Solomon Islands, the crew planned to cruise slowly along the coast of Bougainville before checking in at Buka. However, shortly before arriving at Kieta they were instructed by authorities to proceed directly to Buka without stopping or anchoring en route.
Robbed Twice Within 24 Hours
Check-in at Buka itself was straightforward and efficient and the crew spent two quiet weeks there over Christmas.
They later continued toward Kokopo in New Britain, stopping briefly at Nissan Island and New Ireland. At anchor near Kokopo, the boat was robbed twice within 24 hours. The second incident became violent when an intruder attacked the skipper with a knife. The skipper survived the intrusion but had to stay on anchor while being stitched up and vaccinated at Kokopo Hospital.
The attacker was reportedly known locally, and after meetings with village elders the stolen outboard motor was eventually returned. During the following weeks, the skipper attended repeated meetings with police, customs, and immigration while local residents guarded the boat at night.
Friendly locals armed with machetes
The experience was compounded by ongoing administrative difficulties. PNG regulations required both a cruising permit and formal port-to-port clearances, limiting the ability to stop freely along the coast. Immigration and customs processes became increasingly complicated after the skipper applied for a visa extension needed to remain legally in the country while replacing stolen navigation equipment.
Although the extension paperwork was submitted well before the original visa expired, no extension was issued despite numerous emails and repeated visits to immigration offices. Without a valid visa, authorities would not allow further cruising.
As replacement equipment shipped via DHL was delayed in Port Moresby for weeks, the yacht remained effectively stranded at anchor in Buka for more than a month.
PNG is slow and expensive
Once the replacement navigation equipment finally arrived, the crew decided not to continue cruising in Papua New Guinea. They checked out immediately and sailed directly back to the Solomon Islands, departing while severe weather associated with Cyclone Ciara was still affecting the region.
Reflecting on the experience, the skipper stressed that the report was shaped by unusually bad luck, but also noted broader concerns about safety for visiting yachts.
“After cruising safely through 26 countries with 3000 nights at anchor or at sea, I advise against cruising in country number 27, Papua New Guinea.”
The sailor also stated that, during his 100-day stay, three out of five cruising yachts he personally knew had experienced robberies in different parts of PNG, including New Britain, New Ireland and Bougainville.
Other Information and Incidents
It seems that a significant number of cruisers in PNG and the Solomon islands had an adverse event or theft and this seems nothing new. Beside the two adverse events experienced in New Britain PNG, the skipper provided some additional information:
- Rabaul PNG is no longer considered safe for yachts by Customs officials. Instead they have been advising visiting yachts – since the end of January – to anchor at Kokopo nearby the resorts, for clearance. Their advice is to lock the boat and to be vigilant all of the time. I anchored a bit more to the east for three nights and went ashore near the banana boats. All was fine.
- During my stay at Nissan island, Bougainville I was advised by elder Laurance of the village council of Yotchibol village (southeast of the pass) not to go to the Northwest side of the island. However, I did go there because I was looking for someone. When I anchored, I was quickly surrounded by many enthusiastic canoe people. I left the boat to continue my search. I finally found the person three miles southwest of my anchorage. All was fine during my stay there.
- Another cruiser anchored in Buka had his tablet was stolen at night when doors and hatches were closed but not locked. This happened in January 2026 at Buka’s advised anchorage for entry/exit procedures near Sohano Island.
………………………………
Related Reports:
………………………………
© 2026 Noonsite. This content was edited by Noonsite. Do not reproduce without permission. All rights reserved.
The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not reflect the view of Noonsite.com or World Cruising Club.
If you have found this information useful, become a paid member to enjoy unlimited use of Noonsite plus many other perks. Your membership fees really help our small, dedicated team keep country information up-to-date in support of cruisers worldwide. Find out more about Noonsite Membership levels and benefits here.
Subscribe to our FREE monthly newsletter: https://www.noonsite.com/newsletter/
Leave a comment
You must Login or Register to submit comments.