Papua New Guinea Compendium A Compilation of Guidebook References and Cruising Reports IMPORTANT: USE ALL INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT AT YOUR OWN RISK!! Rev 2019.6 – 15-Nov-2019 We welcome updates to this guide! (especially for places we have no cruiser information on) Email Soggy Paws at sherry –at- svsoggypaws –dot- com. You can also contact us on Sailmail at WDI5677 The current home of the official copy of this document is http://svsoggypaws.com/files/ If you found it posted elsewhere, there might be an updated copy at svsoggypaws.com. Revision Log Many thanks to all who have contributed over the years!! Rev Date Notes 2016.0 17-Apr-2016 Initial version, still very rough at this point!! Random updates have been made as I stumble across info 2017.1 16-Apr-2017 on Noonsite and various cruiser’s blogs. Updates from Screensaver’s blog on transit West to East 2017.2 11-Aug-2017 along the north coast. May 2016 reports from s/v Alk (Noonsite). Some more research on visas, etc. 2018.1 04-Feb-2018 Several small updates L’il Explorers and Field Trip on the Mortlocks and Nuguria 2018.2 15-Dec-2018 Atoll, and Ninigos. Notes on Gulf Harbor Radio (SSB section) Updated cell phone information. Various tidbits. Ciguatera 2019.1 18-Jan-2019 Info. Free Bird’s notes around Milne Bay, Songlines 2011 cruise. 2019.2 21-Feb-2019 2XS’s stuff. More Field Trip. Soggy Paws Notes passing West to East along N coast, and into Kavieng and Rabaul and down the west coast of Buka 2019.3 13-April-2019 and Bouganville. Screensaver’s transit through Buka and Bouganville. Shipping parts to Kavieng from Indigo II. A few more areas included from various blogs. Info from N 2019.4 30-Aug-2019 New Britain. Updates on Manus from Toucan. Updates on clearing in to 2019.5 20-Sep-2019 Rabaul from Soggy Paws. Cruising from Rabaul to Kimbe Bay from Soggy Paws. Kimbe to Manus to Ninigos from Soggy Paws. More Manus 2019.6 15-Nov-2019 from La Grotty. Rabaul to Kimbe from Patience. Figure 1-1 The Papua New Guinea National Flag Table of Contents 1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................... 9 1.1 ORGANIZATION OF THE GUIDE .......................................................................................................... 9 1.2 OVERVIEW OF THE AREA .................................................................................................................. 9 1.2.1 Navigational Cautions ........................................................................................................... 9 1.3 TIME ZONE .................................................................................................................................... 10 1.4 WEATHER IN THIS AREA ................................................................................................................ 10 1.4.1 General Weather Conditions ............................................................................................... 10 1.4.2 Weather Sources – With Onboard Email ............................................................................ 10 1.4.3 Weather Sources – Voice ................................................................................................... 10 1.4.4 Weather Sources – Internet ................................................................................................ 10 1.4.5 Tropical Weather ................................................................................................................. 11 1.5 CUSTOMS & IMMIGRATION .............................................................................................................. 12 1.5.1 Pre-Arrival – Visa Requirements ......................................................................................... 12 1.5.2 Pre-Arrival – Pre Arrival Notification Requirements ............................................................ 18 1.5.3 Immigration – Initial Check In .............................................................................................. 19 1.5.4 Immigration – Renewing Visas ............................................................................................ 19 1.5.5 Customs .............................................................................................................................. 19 1.5.6 Health / Quarantine ............................................................................................................. 23 1.5.7 Stopping Before Officially Clearing In ................................................................................. 24 1.5.8 Pets ..................................................................................................................................... 24 1.5.9 Inter-Country Clearances .................................................................................................... 24 1.5.10 Clearing Out ........................................................................................................................ 24 1.6 LOCAL INFORMATION AND CUSTOMS............................................................................................... 25 1.6.1 Festivals .............................................................................................................................. 25 1.6.2 Security Issues .................................................................................................................... 27 1.6.3 Anchorage Ownership ......................................................................................................... 28 1.6.4 Languages ........................................................................................................................... 29 1.6.5 Betelnut ............................................................................................................................... 29 1.6.6 Shell Money ......................................................................................................................... 29 1.6.7 Trading ................................................................................................................................ 29 1.6.8 Malaria ................................................................................................................................. 40 1.6.9 Eating the Fish (Ciguatera!) ................................................................................................ 41 1.6.10 Crocodiles ........................................................................................................................... 42 1.6.11 Malignant Tropical Sores .................................................................................................... 42 1.7 YACHTSMEN'S SERVICES - OVERVIEW ............................................................................................ 44 1.7.1 Money .................................................................................................................................. 44 1.7.2 Diesel and Gasoline ............................................................................................................ 44 1.7.3 Propane (Cooking Gas) ...................................................................................................... 45 1.7.4 Groceries ............................................................................................................................. 45 1.7.5 Water ................................................................................................................................... 46 1.7.6 Boat Parts & Repairs ........................................................................................................... 46 1.7.7 Medical ................................................................................................................................ 47 1.7.8 Laundry ............................................................................................................................... 48 1.8 EMBASSIES AND CONSULATES ....................................................................................................... 48 1.9 GETTING VISITORS IN AND OUT ...................................................................................................... 48 1.10 COMMUNICATIONS ......................................................................................................................... 49 1.10.1 VHF ..................................................................................................................................... 49 1.10.2 SSB Radio Frequencies and Nets ...................................................................................... 50 1.10.3 Cell Phones and Internet ..................................................................................................... 51 1.10.4 Mail ...................................................................................................................................... 55 1.10.5 News ................................................................................................................................... 57 1.11 DIVING .......................................................................................................................................... 57 1.12 HAULOUT, STORAGE, AND REPAIR FACILITIES ................................................................................. 57 1.13 TSUNAMI INFORMATION .................................................................................................................. 57 1.14 CRUISING INFORMATION SOURCES