GIFF JOHNSON
The hull of the missing sea ambulance washed into the Jitoken area of Jaluit Atoll Tuesday this week, following debris from the boat being spotted Monday at Imiej Island.
None of the four men on board the boat had been found as of Wednesday this week, 10 days after they departed Majuro.
As RMI authorities intensified their searching in the wake of debris and boat hull washing into Jaluit, numerous questions swirled around the departure of the sea ambulance to Mili on March 3: Why didn’t it have an Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) on board, which is standard safety equipment for ocean-going craft? Why was it allowed to travel in the open ocean when Health authorities on Kwajalein Atoll, who operate a sister boat, determined after one trip to Lib Island that the sea ambulance was not seaworthy for open ocean travel and now use theirs only for lagoon travel in Kwajalein Atoll?
The ministry declined to answer the Journal’s questions, saying it remained focused on the search and rescue mission — which the Search and Rescue Task Force on Tuesday said was “intensifying.”
“In line with respect of our culture, we believe it is important to allow the ongoing Search and Rescue (SAR) activities to be completed with the diligence and care that such a tragic incident deserves,” said Health Secretary Francyne Wase-Jacklick. “The SAR efforts remain an active priority under the RMI SAR Committee, and the recovery and examination of wreckage and other objects believed to be from the vessel are still in progress. Once the SAR Committee finalizes its report, MoHHS will be in a better position to address these questions.”
A major search involving the US Coast Guard and Navy and RMI Sea Patrol and other vessels started from soon after the Health boat with four men on board did not arrive at its intended destination of Mili Atoll by the evening of March 3.
After a week of continuous searching, the Coast Guard and Navy halted their aerial search Monday this week, while RMI Sea Patrol continued searching.
The Coast Guard said the search was paused “with heavy hearts.” “To the families and RMI community, we stand with you in your sorrow,” said CWO Sara Muir of Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam. “Our Navy and Marshallese partners poured extraordinary skill and resolve into this search across a vast Pacific expanse. Suspending active efforts doesn’t diminish our respect for these mariners’ lives or the hope that answers may still come.”
No trace was found despite a search across 52,000 square nautical miles of ocean.
The four men on board were: Captain Elji Lenak, Nurse Practitioner Andrew Mejbon, Health Assistant Carlson Joel, and Community Health Outreach Worker Timson Nathan, according to the Ministry of Health and Human Services.
“The sea ambulance crew, last heard from on March 3, carried 10 life jackets, a signal kit with flares, a torch, and reflector mirrors, over 200 gallons of fuel, a VHF radio, radar, GPS, and a satellite phone, but lacked an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) or Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) aboard the vessel,” the Coast Guard reported.
Early last Friday morning, there was a brief sign of hope: the Coast Guard picked up an infrared signature that was thought to be the boat 30 miles south of Majuro. Both Sea Patrol vessels and the ministry’s health ship Liwatoon Mour, which had been dispatched to wait at Mili for further developments, quickly headed for the location identified by the Coast Guard. But no vessel was located despite these vessels actively searching the area Friday.
“At this time,” said Secretary Wase-Jacklick Wednesday this week, “our focus remains on completing the SAR and recovery efforts, providing support to the affected families, and ensuring a thorough collection of detailed information. In the meantime, the use of all small craft is temporarily suspended pending the adoption of new safety and operational procedures.”