A Solomon Islands ferry carrying over 70 passengers lost its engine on Friday while traveling between Anuta and Vanikoro, stranding it at sea. International aid, including water, food, and medical supplies dropped by aircraft from Australia and New Caledonia, sustained the stranded passengers until a Panama-registered bulk carrier arrived Sunday morning to transfer more supplies. John Tua, a passenger on board who is also a nurse with the provincial government, reported that conditions were calm but rough swells had been experienced.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-11,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On Friday, MV Awka, a ferry traveling between the remote islands of Anuta and Vanikoro in Temotu Province of Solomon Islands, encountered engine failure about 100 nautical miles from its destination. With more than 70 passengers on board, the vessel drifted at sea for several days. International efforts to assist the stranded passengers included aircraft from Australia and New Caledonia dropping supplies and equipment. On Sunday morning, a Panama-registered bulk carrier arrived to begin transferring essential items like water and food. Local nurse John Tua reported that despite the engine overheating and failing, everyone aboard remained calm and no one panicked. The incident has sparked renewed calls for increased maritime safety investment in the region from nations such as Australia and New Zealand.
Written for “Solomon Islands Ferry Crisis” on 2026-10-11,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
A Solomons Islands ferry was travelling between the remote islands of Anuta and Vanikoro when its engine failed on Friday, about 100 nautical miles from its destination.
asserted
engine → travel → destination
Aircraft from Australia and New Caledonia have dropped supplies and equipment for the boat with more than 70 passengers onboard.
asserted
Aircraft → drop → boat
A Panama-registered bulk carrier reached the ferry on Sunday morning and began transferring water and food.
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carrier → register → water
More than 70 passengers have been stranded aboard a drifting ferry in Solomon Islands waters since Friday, as an international operation scrambles to get supplies to the vessel.
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operation → strand → vessel
The ferry was sailing between the remote islands of Anuta and Vanikoro in Temotu Province when its engine failed on Friday, leaving it adrift at sea.
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engine → sail → sea
A Panama-registered bulk carrier reached MV Awka on Sunday morning and began transferring water and food, passenger John Tua said.
Mr Tua, a nurse with the provincial government, said the engine was overheating when it broke down about 100 nautical miles from its destination.
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it → register → destination
"Everyone is OK, no-one panicked, passengers were calm … we're just waiting for the rescue ships to come,"he said.
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ships → panic → ?
While the seas have been mostly calm, Mr Tua said the ship had also experienced rough swells.
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ship → say → swells
A distress call was issued on Friday, with the Solomon Islands enlisting help from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) and New Caledonian government.
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Islands → issue → Authority
An AMSA spokesperson said its Cairns-based rescue jet made several drops of critical items including food, water, medical supplies and communications equipment.
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jet → say → food
A French aircraft from New Caledonia was first on the scene on Saturday, dropping life rafts and desalination equipment.
"The urgent need was water.
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need → drop → rafts
We've run out of water onboard …
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We → run → water
the ship's water supply was used to cool the engine down when it was heating up," Mr Tua said.
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Tua → use → engine
"We have lots of brown coconuts on board to drink, but our water is finished."
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water → have → board
On Sunday morning, the Panama-registered bulk carrier Sunnine 3 reached the vessel early and began transferring water and food, which was lifestreamed online by Mr Tua.
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which → register → Tua
Passengers have stayed in touch with families using the ship's Starlink internet, while Mr Tua has been the main source of news for worried relatives.
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Tua → stay → relatives
Temotu Premier Stanley Tehiahua said a police patrol boat was on its way from Honiara.
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boat → say → Honiara
"To all relatives, families and friends anxiously awaiting news of their loved ones, we recognise the emotional distress and uncertainty you are experiencing," he said in a statement.
"We call on everyone to remain calm, united and prayerful during this difficult time,"Mr Tehiahua said.
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Tehiahua → await → everyone
The ABC has requested comment from the Solomon Islands Maritime Safety Administration and the country's Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre.
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ABC → request → Administration
The incident comes three weeks after the inter-island ferry MV Matui sank in rough seas in neighbouring Vanuatu with more than 50 people onboard.
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ferry → come → Vanuatu
More than 30 people from the MV Matui are still missing.
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people → miss → Matui
There have been calls for Australia and New Zealand to invest more in maritime safety, including from Peter Nuttall, a sustainable researcher at the University of the South Pacific, who told the ABC after the Matui sinking that Australia could easily invest in better vessels for the Pacific.
uncertain
Australia → invest → Pacific
"We could have built 40 to 60 safe, brand new, low-carbon ferries for the same budget as we've spent on 20-something patrol boats, several which have already been scrapped," Dr Nuttall said.
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Nuttall → build → boats
The Aporia