Almost four weeks after an Australian-gifted patrol boat ran aground on a reef while ferrying government officials, the Vanuatu government has yet to reveal the circumstances around the incident, saying "an investigation is continuing".
It comes as the country's opposition leader and local NGOs call for more transparency from the government over the incident, with experts saying the costs of the recovery and repair of the vessel will likely cost millions.
The Australian-funded Guardian Class patrol boat RVS Takuare, worth about $25 million, ran aground off the coast of South Epi, about 120km north of the capital Port Vila, on October 5 after ferrying a senior government minister and staff to regional events.
It had only been back in Vanuatu since March after significant repairs were carried out in Australia following severe damage to the vessel during 2023's Cyclone Kevin.
After spending weeks lodged on the reef following the grounding, the vessel was dislodged and towed to the capital, with the help of Australian Defence Force personnel and an independent tugboat contractor.
And on Wednesday, it was lifted out of the water to prepare for the vessel to be towed back to Australia for repairs.
It is unclear who will pay for the repairs and recovery operation; however, the Australian government does have budget provisions for "support" of the vessels' operations across the Pacific.
The Guardian-class patrol boat is one of 22 vessels gifted by the Australian government to various Pacific governments under the Pacific Maritime Security Program.
'Illegal activity' coming
Vanuatu's Opposition Leader Ishmael Kalsakau has been calling for the government to come clean over the circumstances surrounding the incident, with initial reports suggesting the vessel was being used to transport government ministers between events.
The Guardian class vessels are considered the sovereign assets of individual nations, but there is an expectation that the patrol boats are used for police and security purposes, as the Pacific deals with illegal fishing and an influx of drug trafficking through its waters.
Just last month, Vanuatu authorities found 450kg of cocaine on a foreign yacht — only the second major drug bust in the country's history.
Vanuatu's former police commissioner Joshua Bong told the ABC that the boat being out of action would no doubt be registered by leaders of organised crime.
"[From past experiences] it will be out for one and a half to two years," he said.
"Organised crime, I'm sure, will know that there is no patrol boat in Vanuatu's waters, and I'm sure there will be an [increase] in illegal activity.
"Without a patrol boat, there will be more illegal fishing, as there won't be a boat to patrol the areas and protect Vanuatu's sovereignty."
He joined Mr Kalsakau's calls for transparency, saying there needed to be accountability over the grounding, particularly over how the vessel was being used for "VIP transport" of government officials.
He has also raised concerns about the level of training given to officers involved in the operations.
The ABC has asked the Vanuatu government a series of questions over the circumstances surrounding the patrol boat's grounding.
It declined to answer specifics, only indicating a "press release" would be put out "soon".
An investigation is being carried out by police.
Last week, government spokesperson Kiery Manassah told the ABC there were preliminary reports on the incident, but it was "too premature" to speculate about what "should be done, or could be done".
"This can only be done confirmed formal investigations are completed," he said.
"I understand there are very clear disciplinary procedures in place, but if [the investigation] confirms is negligence from those responsible, of course there will be disciplinary measures taken."
He said the focus now was to "salvage the ship".
The Australian government has also been contacted for comment.
Police 'investigating themselves'
Transparency International Vanuatu chief executive Dr Willie Tokon said the country still had no "clear information" from authorities.
"It raises questions: why has the investigation been delayed for so long, and why should the police investigate themselves?" he said.
"The patrol boats are supposed to secure our waters and protect our economy, not transport ministers and VIPs around the islands".
The Guardian-class patrol boats are popular with Pacific Island governments, which use the Australian-built high-tech vessels to survey their vast maritime zones and track illegal fishing.
But the program has also been plagued by issues, with Pacific Minister Pat Conroy revealing not long after taking office in 2022 that the patrol vessels had several defects, including potential problems with the exhaust system.
Multiple patrol vessels have also been damaged in recent years due to mishaps or natural disasters.
Australia handed a new Guardian-class patrol boat to Samoa last year after the police ran the $30 million Nafanua II aground in October 2021, damaging it beyond repair.
And last year, Fiji's RFNS Puamau run aground on its maiden voyage, just a few months after it was handed over by the Australian government.
