Shipping in the Solomons

 

 

Shipping in the Solomon Islands is always changing.  When we began our term, the Bikoi was the best ship for our family.

 

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Later, it became very unreliable, and we switched to the "new" Kosko

 

 

We've been blessed to have really great options (only 7 hours and fairly reliable) to be able to travel to Marulaon Village, but in the year that we've been gone, much has changed.  Our family has the easiest travel route, by far.  I woke up to an e-mail this morning from a friend trying to get out to her village:

 

We were originally scheduled to take the LC Phoenix on 2 May, but they missed their trip to S & E Malaita on the 25th of April so that's where they went on the 2nd, moving the W. Malaita trip to the 9th.  When Ron [her husband] went to get tickets on Monday, they told him the engine was no good and that they would go "next week."  I called on Tuesday and they said W. Malaita was scheduled for the 16th.  Wednesday's Solomon Star ad said all trips are canceled until further notice.  So who knows.  We called the Baruku office right away on Monday, but they were headed to the slipway for 3 weeks of work and won't be going out again until June.  Also, they have a new route, going from Honiara to Auki and then down the coast.  That adds LOTS of people and cargo and 6 - 8 hours to the 16 - 26 hours the trip used to take.  Still no good solutions to shipping, that's for sure.

 

The Bikoi family of ships is looking pretty sad these days, usually tied up together off the end of the wharf between Pt. Cruz and the market.

 

 

Transportation is a HUGE issue for all ex-pat and national translation workers.  Will you please pray about transportation in the Solomon Islands?  In just a few months, it will be our family trying to get back to the village.