The RSIPF is continuing with its investigations into a missing crew member from a tug boat that sunk off Bugana Island in the Central Islands Province in the early evening of Thursday 27 July 2017.
There were seven crew members on board the tug boat when it sank. Six of the crew swam to safety on Bugana Island but one, an Asian crew member, is still missing.
The tug boat was pulling a barge when the incident happened. It was travelling from Honiara to Malaita when it sank after the rope tied to the tug boat broke resulting in the tug boat taking in water and sinking.
Divers of the RSIPF Explosive Ordnance Device Team from Honiara have been at the site of the sunken tug boat near Bugana Island since last Friday 28 July to assist with finding the missing crew member. The RSIPF is continuing to liaise with the company that owns the tug boat as the search continues for the missing crew member. Arrangements are underway to bring in other professional divers to assist in the search.
The crew of the tug boat, who survived the ordeal, are assisting police with their investigations into what led to the sinking of the boat.