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Initial Environmental Examination September 2017
Maritime and Waterways and Safety Project
Pre-Installation Assessment Report for Navaids package 1
Prepared by National Maritime Safety Authority for the Asian
Development Bank (ADB). This Initial Environmental Examination (or
Pre-Installation Assessment) is a document of the Borrower. The
views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of ADB’
Board of Directors, Management, or staff, and may be preliminary in
nature. In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any
project, or by making any designation of or reference to a
particular territory or geographic area in this document, the Asian
Development Bank does not intend to make any judgements as to the
legal or other status of any territory or area.
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Project Number: 44375-13 Loan Number: 2978-PNG
September, 2017
Papua New Guinea: Maritime and Waterways Safety Project
Pre-Installation Assessment Report for Contract Package No.1
(Milne Bay and Central Provinces)
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
1. The Government of Papua New Guinea (the Government) has
requested the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to provide further
assistance in the maritime sector through replacement of existing
or previously evident coastal navigational aids (navaids) as well
as installation of new navaids. The project was initially scoped to
include 132 navaids including replacement (99) and new navaids
(33), and for which site surveys and assessments are being
undertaken to refine requirements and suitability. The Maritime and
Waterways Safety Project, was prepared in 2012 with the project
executing agency and implementing agency being the PNG National
Maritime Safety Authority (NMSA). 2. It is anticipated by the
Project Implementation Unit (PIU) of the NMSA that the navaid
project will be undertaken through three (3) separate contract
packages. Contract Package 1 will involve a total number of 48
navaid installations in Milne Bay and Central Provinces distributed
over seven (7) sites. Contract Package 2 navaids will involve a
total of 20 navaid installations in the Autonomous Region of
Bougainville (ARB), New Ireland, East New Britain and West New
Britain Provinces distributed over twelve (12) sites. 3. Contract
Package 3 navaids locations will be validated based on future
assessments. Separate PIAs for navaid locations under each of these
contract packages are required to be prepared and submitted after
the conduct of pre-installation site assessments. The preparation
of this PIA is for Contract Package1. 4. The Pre-installation
Assessment (PIA) addressed navaid locational requirements for
engineering and marine safety, and environmental protection
perspectives; habitat and bottom type identification for navaid
installation and for setting of anchors to determine specific
locations to minimize environmental damage; and pre-installation
community awareness. This activity for Contract Package 1 navaids
locations took place intermittently from July 31 to September 10,
2015. 5. A Pre-Installation Assessment Checklist had been prepared
covering the minimum requirements provided in the EARF. The habitat
and bottom type identification involved diving and underwater
photography, subject to safe sea and environmental conditions. The
pre-installation community awareness preparations have been based
from the NMSA’s Community Engagement Program but followed the PIUs
process ultimately, including particularly the FPIC process that
also involved representatives from the Provincial Government,
Districts, and the Department of Lands staff. Community awareness
meetings resulted in signed FPIC forms that are considered
significant outcomes under this PIA because it confirms community
agreement and acceptance of the project and permission by the
community for the installation of the navaids in advance of the
finalization of an appropriate mode of land acquisition (purchase
or lease agreement). 6. Majority of the proposed navaids under
Contract 1 will be monopiles type installations ranging in size of
from 355mm to 610mm in diameter and driven into the substrate
extending a focal plane height of 6-7m above mean sea level (msl).
The exception shall be in the Cannac Islet which will likely be a
fiberglass or other modular type fabricated lighthouse. Signal
light, solar power panels, radar reflectors as necessary and day or
top marks and related devices will be installed atop the pile which
may be wrapped or otherwise protected in order to extend their
useful life in the harsh seawater environment. A program of
inspections and maintenance will be developed.
7. Throughout the Milne Bay Province, and the Central Province,
environmentally sensitive areas that may be jeopardized by
installation operations include corals and seagrass beds which
abound in some identified sites. However, there are always
available sandy patches within the radius from the identified GPS
coordinates that present opportunities from which to place the
navaids. Nevertheless, it is important to adhere to
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precautionary principles and judiciously prepare and implement a
work method statement and environmental management plan during
installation. No mangroves will be affected by the navaid
installations. 8. The PIA indicates that the installation of the
replacement and new navaids in the Milne Bay and Central Provinces
will result in unavoidable and permanent loss of very small areas
of habitat during their lifetime. This physical loss however will
be offset by the monopiles becoming habitats themselves for various
marine organisms. In addition, this physical loss will be offset by
the avoidance of vessels running aground on reefs with the
potential of extensive environmental damage, as well as loss of
human lives. Where sea conditions allow for safe underwater
inspections, the PIU managed in all sites to actually inspect and
identify sand or rubble areas so that particularly sensitive
habitats, especially vigorous coral reefs, are not impacted. 9. The
NIC will be required to prepare a work method statement, and an
installation environmental management plan to properly manage the
required pre-installation and installation processes and ensuring
the avoidance or minimization of negative environmental impacts to
the navaid locations. The NIC is expected to provide a Marine
Ecologist in its installation team. 10. The PIA concludes that
potential adverse environmental impacts arising from replacement of
existing or previously evident coastal navigational aids, and
installation of new navaids in these provinces can be minimized to
insignificant levels by selecting a NIC that will fully comply with
the environmental requirements of the project.
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Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
.......................................................................................................................
2
ACRONYMS
..........................................................................................................................................
6
List of Tables and Figures
.....................................................................................................................
7
List of Plates
..........................................................................................................................................
8
I. INTRODUCTION
............................................................................................................................
9
A. Project Overview
..................................................................................................................................
9
A.1 Scope of the Pre-installation Assessment
......................................................................................
9
A.2 Structure of the Report
....................................................................................................................
11
A.3 Schedule
............................................................................................................................................
12
A.4 Pre-Installation Assessment (PIA) Team
......................................................................................
12
B. Policy, Legal and Administrative Framework
.................................................................................
13
B.1 ADB Environmental Safeguards
....................................................................................................
13
B.2 PNG Requirements
..........................................................................................................................
13
B.3 The National Maritime Safety Authority
........................................................................................
15
B.4 Other PNG Legislation
.....................................................................................................................
15
B.5 International Agreements
................................................................................................................
16
II. BASELINE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
.............................................................................
16
A. Physical Environment
........................................................................................................................
17
A.1 Climatic Conditions
..........................................................................................................................
17
A.2 Seismic Activity
.................................................................................................................................
20
B. Biological
Environment......................................................................................................................
20
B.1 Biological environmental condition of the navaid locations
observed during the pre-installation
assessments
............................................................................................................................................
21
B.2. Marine Protected Areas and Important Species
.........................................................................
43
C. Socio-economic Environment
..........................................................................................................
43
C.1 Central Province
...............................................................................................................................
44
C.2 Milne Bay Province
..........................................................................................................................
45
III. ANTICIPATED IMPACTS OF THE INSTALLATION ACTIVITIES AND
MITIGATION MEASURES
..................................................................................................................................
48
A. Anticipated Impacts on the Physical Environment
........................................................................
48
A.1 Meteorology and Climate
................................................................................................................
48
A.2 Rainfall
...............................................................................................................................................
48
A.3 Temperature
......................................................................................................................................
48
A.4 Climate Change
................................................................................................................................
48
A.5 Seismic Activity
.................................................................................................................................
48
A.6 Noise
..................................................................................................................................................
49
A.7 Flashing Lights
..................................................................................................................................
49
A.8 Aesthetics
..........................................................................................................................................
49
B. Anticipated Impacts on the Biological Environment
......................................................................
49
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B.1 Anticipated Impacts on Rare and Endangered Species
.............................................................
51
B.2 Barging Positioning and Stabilization
............................................................................................
51
C. Anticipated Impacts on the Socio-Economic Environment
.......................................................... 52
IV. CONSULTATIONS WITH THE PROVINCIAL LEVEL-AND LOCAL LEVEL
GOVERNMENTS AND COMMUNITIES
....................................................................................................................
52
A. Stakeholder Consultation
..................................................................................................................
53
B. Preparation of Awareness Material
..................................................................................................
54
C. Community Awareness
......................................................................................................................
54
D. Field Trip Programme
........................................................................................................................
54
E. Decision Making Processes in Melanesian Communities
............................................................ 55
F. Gender
..................................................................................................................................................
55
G. Land Acquisition and Resettlement (LAR)
.....................................................................................
56
H. Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC)
........................................................................................
56
I. Findings in Different Communities
.....................................................................................................
56
V. GRIEVANCE REDRESS MECHANISM
.......................................................................................
63
A. During construction
............................................................................................................................
63
B. During Operation
................................................................................................................................
65
XIV. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN
................................................................................
65
A. Institutional arrangements and responsibilities for EMP
implementation .................................. 66
B. Pre-Installation Impacts and Mitigation Measures
........................................................................
67
C. Community Consultation and Land
Acquisition.............................................................................
68
C.1 Community Consultation and Interaction
......................................................................................
68
D. Pre-Installation Assessment and Reporting
..................................................................................
68
E. Installation Phase Activities and Mitigation Measures
.................................................................
69
E.1 Manoeuvring and Stabilizing the Work Barge
..............................................................................
70
E.2 Pile Installation
..................................................................................................................................
70
E.3 Debris Removal and Clean up
.......................................................................................................
71
E.4 Management of Waste and Hazardous Substances
...................................................................
71
E.5. Post installation inspection and audits
.........................................................................................
72
F. Operations Phase Activities
..............................................................................................................
72
VII. MONITORING AND
REPORTING................................................................................................
72
VIII. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
.................................................................................
90
IX. LIST OF ANNEXES
......................................................................................................................
92
ANNEX 1: PIA CHECKLISTS
.........................................................................................................................
92
ANNEX 2: UNDERWATER AND ABOVE WATER PHOTOGRAPHS
................................................................
92
ANNEX 3: SCHEDULE OF PENALTIES AS PER THE PNG ENVIRONMENT ACT OF
2000 ............................... 93
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ACRONYMS
ADB Asian Development Bank ARB Autonomous Region of Bougainville
CAM Community Awareness Meeting CAMM Community Awareness Meeting
Minutes CDD Community Development Department (within NMSA) CLC
Community Lighthouse Committee CLCO Community and Lands Coordinator
CP2 Contract Package 2 CSMA Community Security and Monitoring
Agreement CEPA Conservation and Environment Protection Authority EA
Executing Agency EARF Environmental Assessment and Review Framework
EMP Environmental Management Plan EO Environmental Officer (of
NMSA’s PIU) EP Environmental Permit ES Environmental Specialist
(International) of NMSA’s PIU FPIC Free, Prior and Informed Consent
GCLS Gender, Community and Lands Specialist GRM Grievance Redress
Mechanism IEMP Installation environmental management plan IERM
Installation Environmental Management Report LIR Land Investigation
report MPA Marine Protected Area NMSA National Marine Safety
Authority NPW Notification of Preparatory Work NIC Navaid
Installation Contractor NGI New Guinea Islands PIA Pre-Installation
Assessment PIAR Pre-Installation Assessment Report PIU Project
Implementation Unit PLC Provincial Lighthouse Committee PM PIU
Project Manager PNG Papua New Guinea QPR Quarterly Progress Report
SPS ADB’s Safeguard Policy Statement (2009) TL Team Leader of
NMSA’s PIU WMA Wildlife Management Area
CURRENCY EQUIVALENTS (As of 18 September 2017) Currency unit –
kina (K) K1.00 = $0.31
$1.00 = K3.20 NOTE
In this report, "$" refers to US dollars unless otherwise
stated.
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List of Tables and Figures
Tables: Table 1 Distribution of Sites and Navaid Locations for
Contract Package 1 ............................ 9 Table 2
Pre-installation Assessment (PIA) Schedule Contract Package 1
............................ 12 Table 3 Pre-Installation Assessment
(PIA) Team for Contract Package 2 ............................ 12
Table 4 Rainfall and Temperature Summary for Gurney Weather Office
............................... 18 Table 5 Rainfall and Temperature
Summary for Misima Weather Office ...............................
18 Table 6 Rainfall and Temperature Summary for Kupiano Weather
Office ............................. 19 Table 7 Rainfall and
Temperature Summary for Port Moresby Weather Office
.................... 19 Table 8 List of Navigational Aids for
Installation in Dawson Strait
........................................... 22 Table 9 List of
Navigational Aids for Installation in Kiriwina and Kitava Islands
.................... 27 Table 10 List of Navigational Aids for
Installation in Budibudi Islands
.................................... 30 Table 11 List of
Navigational Aids for Installation in Deboyne Lagoons
................................. 32 Table 12 List of Navigational
Aids for Installation in the Jomard Passage
............................. 36 Table 13 List of Navigational Aids
for Installation in China Strait
............................................ 38 Table 14 List of
Navigational Aids for Installation in the McFarlane Harbour
........................ 41 Table 15 Economic Breakdown for Central
Province
................................................................ 44
Table 16 Economic Breakdown for Milne Bay
............................................................................
45 Table 17 Estimated Annual Market income/person
...................................................................
47 Table 18 General Findings on Demography/Descriptions for sites
in Milne Bay .................. 58 Table 19 General Findings on
Demography/Descriptions for sites in Central Province. ..... 62
Table 20 EMP (Near-shore/off-shore Navaids Installations)
.................................................... 74 Table 21
EMP (Land-based Navaids Installations)
....................................................................
81
Figures: Figure 1 Location of Navaids in Dawson Strait
...........................................................................
22 Figure 2 Location of Navaid at Losuia, Kiriwina Island
.............................................................. 29
Figure 3 Location of Navaid in Kitava Island
...............................................................................
30 Figure 4 Location of Cannac Islet and Tamaris Reef (Budibudi
Islands) ............................... 32 Figure 5 Location of
Navaids in Deboyne Lagoon
.....................................................................
33 Figure 6 Location of Navaid in Jomard Passage
........................................................................
36 Figure 7 Location of Navaid in China Strait
.................................................................................
38 Figure 8 Location of Navaids in McFarlane Harbour/Marshall
Lagoon ................................... 41 Figure 9 District
Profile for Abau.
..................................................................................................
44 Figure 10 District Profile for Esa’ala.
............................................................................................
46 Figure 11 District Profile for Kiriwina Goodenough.
...................................................................
46 Figure 12 District Profile for Samarai Murua.
..............................................................................
47 Figure 13 Flow Chart Outlining Grievance Redress Mechanism
............................................. 64
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List of Plates:
Plate 1. Above water and under water photos of Gigipwala Point
...................................... 23 Plate 2. Above water and
under water photos of Sebulugomwa Point
............................... 24 Plate 3. Above water and under
water photos of Dobu Island N-End .................................
24 Plate 4. Above water and under water photos of Waiope Island
(Oayabe) ........................ 25 Plate 5. Above water and under
water photos of Cape Doubtful S-end (Sarubwaina) ........ 25 Plate
6. Above water and under water photos of Yadayadala
............................................ 26 Plate 7. Above
water and under water photos of Cape Doubtful N-end
............................. 26 Plate 8. Above water and under
water photos of Sanaroa Island W-end ........................... 27
Plate 9. Above water photos of Losuia Piles
......................................................................
28 Plate 10. Above water and under water photos of Kitava Island
Location .......................... 29 Plate 11. Above water photo
of Cannac Islet
.....................................................................
31 Plate 12. Above water and under water photos of Tamaris Reef
....................................... 31 Plate 13. Above water
photo of Hobwaiwala 2
...................................................................
33 Plate 14. Above water photo of West Passage North (Lenana Reef)
................................. 34 Plate 15. Above water photo of
West Passage South (Manaloin Reef or Mahawan) ......... 34 Plate
16. Above water photo of Redlick Passage/Rara
Island............................................ 35 Plate 17.
Above water photo of Redlick Passage/Holuga
.................................................. 35 Plate 18.
Above water photo of Jomard Entrance - North Cardinal Mark
........................... 36 Plate 19. Above water photo of
Jomard Entrance – South Cardinal Mark .......................... 37
Plate 20. Above water photo of Jomard Entrance
.............................................................. 37
Plate 21. Above water photo of Jomard Entrance
.............................................................. 37
Plate 22. Above water photo of Suina Point, Gadogadowa Island
..................................... 39 Plate 23. Above water and
underwater photos of Kwato Island 1
...................................... 39 Plate 24. Above water and
underwater photos of Kwato Island 2
...................................... 39 Plate 25. Above water and
underwater photos of the site at Gesila
................................... 40 Plate 26. Above water and
underwater photos of Iguali Island Location
............................ 40 Plate 27. Above water and
underwater photos of McFarlane Harbour No. 1 ......................
42 Plate 28. Above water photo of McFarlane Harbour No. 3
................................................. 42 Plate 29.
Above water photo of McFarlane Harbour No. 2
................................................. 42 Plate 30.
Above water photo of McFarlane Harbour No. 5
................................................. 43
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I. INTRODUCTION
A. Project Overview
1. The Government of Papua New Guinea (the Government) has
requested the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to provide further
assistance in the maritime sector through replacement of existing
or previously evident coastal navigational aids (navaids) as well
as installation of new navaids. The project was initially scoped to
include 132 navaids including replacement (99) and new navaids
(33), and for which site surveys and assessments are being
undertaken to refine requirements and suitability. The Maritime and
Waterways Safety Project, was prepared in 2012 with the project
executing agency and implementing agency being the PNG National
Maritime Safety Authority (NMSA). 2. It is anticipated by the PIU
that the navaid project will be undertaken through three (3)
separate contract packages. Contract Package 1 will involve a total
number of 48 navaids installations in Milne Bay Province and
Central Province distributed over the following sites1 as shown in
Table 1:
Table 1 Distribution of Sites and Navaid Locations for Contract
Package 1
Source: PIU NMSA. Kiriwina and Kitava Islands have been
considered as one site.
3. Of these total number, 21 are replacement installations while
27 are new installations. Under the 21 replacement installations 7
are actual replacement of pre-existing piles whist the others will
involve rehabilitation works (painting and re-numbering) done to 14
existing beacons at Kiriwina. Most of the replacement installations
will be placed within the same 10-15m radius from the identified
GPS coordinates to minimize negative environmental impacts. 4.
Contract Packages 2 and 3 navaids locations will be validated based
on future assessments. Separate PIAs for navaid locations under
each of these contract packages are required to be prepared and
submitted after the conduct of pre-installation site assessments.
Hence the preparation of this PIA is for Contract Package 1.
A.1 Scope of the Pre-installation Assessment 5. The
Pre-installation Assessment (PIA) addressed navaid locational
requirements for engineering and maritime safety, and environmental
protection perspectives. This included pre-installation community
awareness and identification of the type of sea bed material for
both navaid installation and anchor points to determine specific
locations that will minimize environmental damage.
1 Under the Project, ‘sites’ refer to the general area in which
navaids will be located/installed, several navaids can be clustered
or located within one site. For sector project purposes a site is a
subproject and can include up to 30 navaid locations (EARF).
Province and Sites No. of Sites
No. of Navaid Locations
Replacement Installations
New Installations
Milne Bay Province: 6 44 18 26
Dawson Strait 8 0 8
Kiwirina and Kitava Islands 19 17 2
Deboyne Islands 6 0 6
Jomard Passage 4 0 4
China Strait 5 1 4
Cannac Islet & Budibudi Island 2 0 2
Central Province: 1 4 3 1
Marshall Lagoon 4 3 1
Total 7 48 21 27
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6. During the inspections, a handheld GPS was used to accurately
determine the site location coordinates for plotting on the
relevant maritime chart. Post inspection, plotting of the
identified positions was undertaken and minor corrections, were
made in consultation with the NMSA Senior Geographical Information
Officer. In the Navigation Aids Review and Site Investigation
Report and Recommendations, the type and light characteristics of
the navaid are determined in accordance with the IALA (A) Buoyage
system (please refer to separate report). 7. A Pre-Installation
Assessment Checklist was prepared to identify the minimum
requirements provided in the Environmental Assessment and Review
Framework (EARF). Duly accomplished and signed PIA Checklists for
each of the navaid locations form part of this report (Please refer
to Annex 1). Community awareness activities comprised land
acquisition and resettlement screening which incorporated
documentation for Free Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) was also
conducted during the PIA activities (please refer to separate CD
team report). The signed FPIC forms are considered significant
outcomes under this PIA because they confirm community agreement
and acceptance of the project together with community permission
for installation of the navaids prior to the finalization of an
appropriate mode of land acquisition (purchase or lease agreement).
8. The habitat and sea bed type identification involved diving and
underwater photography, subject to safe sea and environmental
conditions. Various sea conditions were encountered during the
voyages to the proposed navigational aid locations and these
conditions ranged from relative calm to the presence of large
swells and currents. Safety of the team was of utmost consideration
during the assessment. This was given emphasis and importance where
each member of the PIA Team were given briefing on Cardno’s Project
HSEQ Plan and associated Safe Work Method Statements for the field
trip and diving activity. 9. The proposed navaid locations assessed
are the most suitable locations based on the following
considerations:
The locations and proposed aids to navigation provide the safest
outcome for passing
marine traffic, both large vessels and those of the workboat and
dinghy fleets.
The locations and proposed aids to navigation direct marine
traffic away from areas
of danger such as outlying reefs and shoal areas.
The locations and proposed aids to navigation provide the best
arc of visibility for
marine traffic passing the aid in either direction.
Particular attention was paid to aids to navigation to be sited
on corners in open water
channels whereby the corner would be well marked for marine
traffic travelling in each
direction passing the aids to navigation.
Ease of access to ongoing maintenance.
Distance from the low water mark on the shore was also
considered with a view to
the prevention of vandalism.
Material types for pitching and driving of piled navaids.
Engineering purposes (i.e. lower wave energy where possible,
shallower areas to
reduce need for larger beacons.
Avoidance and/or minimization of impacts to terrestrial
vegetation/habitats.
10. More justifications are provided in the report on Navigation
Aids Review and Site Investigation Report & Recommendations
(see separate report). 11. The pre-installation community awareness
preparations followed NMSA’s Community Engagement Program but
followed the PIU’s process ultimately, including particularly the
FPIC process that also involved representatives from the Provincial
Government, Districts, and the Department of Lands staff. This is
fully described in a separate report.
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A.2 Structure of the Report 12. The preparation of this PIA
Report is guided by the requirements contained in the Environmental
Assessment and Review Framework (EARF) agreed between the Asian
Development Bank (ADB), and the National Maritime Safety Authority
(NMSA) in May 2015. To the extent possible, information provided
complies with the EARF if these are readily available from site
assessments and secondary sources. Otherwise, these are indicated
as gaps requiring further work before actual installation
activities by the NIC. 13. The PIA Report includes the
following:
I. Introduction. This provides brief information about the
project, scope of the pre-installation assessment and schedule,
identification of the Team, and the description of the structure of
this report.
II. Baseline Environmental Condition. This provides the general
description of the sites
and detailed description of the proposed navaid locations which
incorporate engineering and marine safety locational assessment;
and secondary information from various sources and attributed as
appropriate.
III. Anticipated Impacts of the Installation Activities at each
location. This identifies the
anticipated impacts to the physical and biological environment
of the sites based on information gathered during the assessment as
well as secondary information.
IV. Consultations with the Community. This incorporates results
of community
engagement and consultations during the community awareness
meetings conducted for each of the communities that were
visited.
V. Grievance Redress Mechanism.
VI. Environmental Management Plan. This discusses the mitigation
and management measures to be taken during project implementation
prepared as the IEMP based on the template provided in the EARF and
updated accordingly by being less prescriptive to allow NIC the
flexibility to use appropriate equipment and work methodology that
will achieve the desired positive environmental outcomes.
VII. Monitoring, Reporting and Disclosure Requirements.
VIII. Conclusion and Recommendations.
IX. Annexes. These pertain to the PIA Checklists, Site
Photographs (Underwater and
above water) and the Schedule of Penalties as per the PNG
Environment Act of 2000.
14. The report structure generally responds to the EARF
requirements, and builds on secondary information readily
obtainable from the Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) which
was prepared for two sites under the PPTA. This secondary
information includes physical and biological environments,
environmental management plan, and many more relevant information
required for the pre-installation assessment. These are used
generously with editing where appropriate, and updated with
location-specific baseline environmental conditions.
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12
A.3 Schedule
15. The assessment of the proposed navaid locations in Milne Bay
and Central Provinces were conducted on the following actual
dates:
Table 2 Pre-installation Assessment (PIA) Schedule Contract
Package 1
Sites Dates
1. Milne Bay Province
Dawson Strait
31 July – 08 August 2015
Kitava Island
Deboyne Islands
Jomard Passage
China Strait
Kiwirina (Losuia) 24 September 2015
Cannac Islet & Budibudi Island 21 September 2015
2. Central Province
Marshall Lagoon 10 September 2015 Source: PIU NMSA.
A.4 Pre-Installation Assessment (PIA) Team 16. The PIA Team is
composed of both International and National Specialists of the
PIU-NMSA as shown in the table below:
Table 3 Pre-Installation Assessment (PIA) Team for Contract
Package 2 Sites Dates Members of the PIU-NMSA
Assessment Team
Milne Bay Sites 31 July – 02 August 2015
Eric Petrus – PIU Project Manager
Scott Keane – Team Leader
John Ellyett – Maritime Safety Specialist
Claudia Strier – Gender and Community Lands Specialist
Marion Kila – Community and Lands Coordinator
Alex Warren – Community and Lands Coordinator
Priscilla Piandi – Environment Officer
Cannac Islet and Budibudi Island
21 September, 2015 Eric Petrus – PIU Project Manager
Marion Kila – Community and Lands Coordinator
Priscilla Piandi – Environment Officer
Central Province;
Padana Nahua Passage
8 September 2015
John Ellyett – Marine Safety Specialist;
Joselito Losaria – Environment Specialist
Priscilla Piandi – Environment Officer
18 September 2015 Claudia Strier – Gender and Community Lands
Specialist
Marion Kila – Community and Lands Coordinator
Marshall Lagoon 10 September 2015 Daniel Ngala – PIU Project
Accountant
John Ellyett – Marine Safety Specialist
Claudia Strier – Gender and Community Lands Specialist
Joselito P. Losaria – Environment Specialist
Marion Kila – Community and Lands Coordinator
Priscilla Piandi – Environment Officer
Source: PIU-NMSA.
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13
B. Policy, Legal and Administrative Framework
B.1 ADB Environmental Safeguards 17. This Pre-installation
assessment builds on information from the IEE that has been
previously carried out to ensure that potential adverse
environmental impacts are addressed according to the SPS. The
objectives of the SPS are to ensure the environmental soundness and
sustainability of projects and to support the integration of
environmental considerations into the project decision-making
process. Environmental safeguards are triggered if a project is
likely to have potential environmental risks and impacts. 18. ADB
uses a classification system to reflect the significance of a
project’s potential environmental impacts. A project’s category is
determined by the category of its most sensitive component,
including direct, indirect, cumulative, and induced impacts in the
project’s area of influence. Each proposed project is scrutinized
as to its type, location scale, and sensitivity and the magnitude
of its potential environmental impacts. Projects are assigned to
one of the following four categories:
o Category A. A proposed project is classified as Category A if
it is likely to have significant adverse environmental impacts that
are irreversible, diverse, or unprecedented. These impacts may
affect an area larger that the sites ort facilities subject to
physical works. An environmental impact assessment (EIA) is
required.
o Category B. A proposed project is classified as Category B if
its potential adverse
environmental impacts are less adverse than those of Category A
projects. These impacts are site-specific, few if any of them are
irreversible, and in most cases mitigation measures can be designed
more readily than for category A projects. An initial environmental
examination (IEE) is required.
o Category C. A proposed project is classified as category C if
it is likely to have
minimal or no adverse environmental impacts. No environmental
assessment is required although environmental implications need to
be reviewed.
o Category FI. A proposed project is classified as category FI
if it involves investment
of ADB funds or through a FI. 19. The purpose and objectives of
the SPS have been applied to classify the subproject as a category
B project, which requires development of an IEE for identified
subprojects, and the EARF to guide subprojects prepared during
project implementation.
B.2 PNG Requirements 20. Environmental impact assessment and
management in PNG is addressed by the Environment Act of 2000, the
Environment (Amendment) Act of 2002, their accompanying regulatory
instruments including the Environment (Prescribed Activities)
Regulation of 2002, and the Guideline for Conduct of Environmental
Impact Assessment and Preparation of an Environmental Impact
Statement, 2004. These Acts and regulations are administered by the
Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (CEPA),
previously the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC).
CEPA was established under the Conservation and Environment
Protection Act 2014 (CEPA Act) and takes over the role formerly
undertaken by the DEC as PNG’s environmental regulator. The
objective of the Environment Act and amendments is to enhance the
sustainable management of biological and physical components of the
land, air, and water resources of the country. 21. The CEPA is
responsible for administration and enforcement of the Environment
Act and its regulatory structure. As the government’s environmental
management agency, the
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14
mission statement of CEPA is: “To ensure PNG’s natural resources
are managed to sustain environmental quality, human well-being and
support improved standards of living.” The department consists of
three divisions:
Environment Protection, responsible for environmental
approvals;
Sustainable Environment Management; and
Policy Coordination and Evaluation 22. The Environment
Protection Division is the government entity to which NMSA must
submit Notifications of Preparatory Work (NPW) concerning the 48
new navaid locations to determine whether EPs will be required. 23.
PNG’s Environmental (Prescribed Activities) Regulation of 2002
(Section 48) requires parties intending to carry out preparatory
work in relation to Level-2 or Level-3 activities to register that
intention with the Director of Environment. “Preparatory Work” is
defined as work associated with:
Undertaking a feasibility study, or
Carrying out other studies relevant to environmental issues,
or
Applying for approval under the Investment Promotion Act 1992 to
carry out an activity, or
Applying for an approval or a permit or license under another
Act in relation to a proposed activity.
The NPW consists of 15 required components:
Name of the proponent
Name of proponents authorized contact and spokesperson
Address of principal address in PNG DEC Corporate Plan
2009-2012.
Company registration details
Site address: address where the proposed activity will be
conducted
Details of site ownership
Statement concerning whether the proponents has negotiated and
signed an agreement with GoPNG in relation to the proposal
Other government departments or statutory bodies approached
Other formal government approvals that are required
Status of negotiations with relevant landowner/resource owner
groups
Estimated cost of works (in Kina)
Scope and description of the proposed activity or works
Description of project site
Applicant’s assessment of whether proposed activity is a Level 2
or Level 3 activity
Timeline or schedule for the proposed activity 24. While NPWs
are generally required for only larger or more intrusive projects
(defined as Level-2 and Level-3 Projects), as described by PNG
Statutory Instrument No. 30 of 2002 (See References) which excludes
the navaid program from inclusion in the more intrusive categories,
the PIU previously sought a confirmation advise from Mr. Pawa Limu,
Environmental Expert, NMSA, as was previously recommended during
the Technical Assistance for this project. The NMSA then submitted
NPW for new construction locations under Contract Package 1 for
which Contract Package 2 is similarly conditioned. The CEPA had
responded to this submission in its letter of acknowledgement
indicating that the works contemplated under this project is not a
prescribed activity. 25. Despite the above procedures, the NMSA or
the Contractor may require, depending upon the specific nature of
their equipment, facilities and operational procedures, waste
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15
disposal permit(s) from the CEPA, which may include offshore
disposal of collected sewage as well as land disposal of waste and
scrap. The CEPA (then DEC) has issued several guidelines, including
the Guideline for submission of an application for an environmental
permit to discharge waste, GL Env/03/2004. The Contractor selected
for this work will be required to obtain permits relevant to solid
wastes, sewage and gray water discharges, and other wastes the
operation will be reasonably anticipated to generate. 26. CEPA
operates at the national level from its office in Port Moresby. It
does not have offices or personnel in the provinces. All
environmental approval is currently centralized. As part of the
GoPNG’s decentralization policy, it is incumbent on CEPA to work in
close consultation with provincial governments through the
respective provincial administrations to ensure implementation of
environmental legislation at the provincial level. Some
environmental management and monitoring functions are delegated to
provincial administrations if and when they have adequate resources
and capacity to conduct these activities. 27. The Environment
(Prescribed Activities) Regulation of 2002 provides a protocol for
determining whether a project must be classified as a Level 1,
Level 2, or Level 3 category. Levels 2 and 3 require an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Any activity not explicitly
defined as Level 2 or Level 3 is by default categorized as Level 1,
which requires no EIS. The Project is defined as a Level 1
activity, and therefore does not require an EIS under PNG statutes
and regulations. As per the requirements of the EARF any IEEs or in
this case the Pre-installation assessment report prepared for sites
will be submitted to CEPA, along with ADB, for review.
B.3 The National Maritime Safety Authority 28. The NMSA was
established by an Act of the PNG Parliament in 2003, and it began
operations in January 2006 as a not-for-profit public body on a
self-sustaining basis, reporting to the NMSA Board and the Minister
for Transport. The General Manager runs day-to-day operations
through a corporate structure of divisions headed by Executive
Managers, who report directly to him. 29. NMSA’s mandate is to
ensure:
(i) Compliance with Maritime Safety Standards (ii) Marine
Pollution Prevention and Coordination of Cleanups (iii) Maritime
Search and Rescue Coordination
30. As a result of NMSA’s mandate to ensure that maritime safety
risks are effectively monitored and controlled, NMSA will be the
lead PNG agency for this project. NMSA will be responsible for
Contractor monitoring and assuring compliance with the EMP.
B.4 Other PNG Legislation 31. The following legislation will
also apply to the project:
(i) The Employment Act, 1978. An act relating to employment of
nationals and non-citizens. The act covers recruitment and
conditions of employment, as well as health and safety issues. It
is administered by the Department of Labor and Employment (DLE).
Conditions of the Act are relevant to the health and safety of
workers employed during construction.
(ii) The Public Health Act (1978) Chapter 368 protects the
general public by regulating
and controlling the unplanned disposal of any environmental
contaminants such as
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domestic or industrial waste and/or refuse that has the
potential to impact the lives of people.
(iii) Drinking water quality standards for both freshwater and
marine aquatic life
protection are provided in the Environment (Water Quality
Criteria) Regulation 2002, and are listed in Table 1 of Act, Sec.
133(2); Reg., Sec. 2. Ranges of criteria are provided for some
parameters including turbidity.
B.5 International Agreements 32. Papua New Guinea is a signatory
to the following international agreements with environmental and
conservation implications:
International Convention on Biological Diversity, Rio de
Janeiro, 1992
UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
UN Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries
Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly
in Africa
Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of
Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES)
Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile
Use of Environmental Modification Techniques
Basel Convention on the Control of Trans boundary Movement of
Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal
Convention to Ban the Importation into Forum Islands Countries
of Hazardous Wastes and Radioactive Wastes and Control the
Trans-Boundary Movement and Management of Hazardous Wastes within
the South Pacific Region (Waigani Convention)
Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping
Waste and Other Matter (London Convention)
UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOS)
Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer
Protocol of 1978 Relating to the International Convention for
the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973 (MARPOL)
International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution
Damage, Brussels, 1969
RAMSAR Convention on Wetlands of International Importance,
especially Waterfowl Habitat, 1971
Convention on the World Cultural Heritage and Natural Heritage,
1972
Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild
Fauna and Flora
International Convention on the Conservation of Nature in the
South Pacific, Apia, 1972
Convention for the Protection of the Natural Resources and
Environment of the South Pacific Region and related Protocols
(SPREP, 1986)
Protocol on Biosafety (Cartagena Protocol)
Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs
Convention)
Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for
Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade
(Rotterdam
Convention)
Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer
(1985)
II. BASELINE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS 33. The following
discussion describes general baseline information of Milne Bay and
Central Provinces; as well as the baseline information of the sites
and navaid locations based on pre-installation assessments
conducted for the candidate locations. In addition, site
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17
descriptions are supplemented with secondary information as
applicable including the general description of the marine
environment where the navaids may be located during its entire
operational life.
A. Physical Environment 34. Milne Bay Province is one of the
provinces of Papua New Guinea comprised of four (4) districts,
namely: Alotau, Esa’ala, Kiriwina-Goodenough, and Samarai-Murua.
Its major island groups are the following: a) The D'Entrecasteaux
Islands including Goodenough (Nidula), Fergusson (Moratau),
Sanaroa, Dobu and Normanby (Duau); b) The Trobriand Islands,
including Kiriwina, Kaileuna, Vakuta and Kitava; c) The Amphlett
Islands; d) Woodlark Island (Muyuw, Murua); e) The Louisiade
Archipelago, including Rossell (Yela), Tagula (Sudest, Vanatinai),
Misima; f) Samarai; g) Kwato, Deka Deka Islands, Logea, Saliba,
Basilaki, and Sideia; and h) The Engineer Islands, including
Tubetube and Kwaraiwa. The proposed navaids are distributed within
these island groups with the exception of the Amphlett Islands. 35.
Milne Bay has been described in the Project entitled
“Community-based Coastal and Marine Conservation in Milne Bay
Province” previously implemented by the United Nations Development
Program, as Papua New Guinea’s (PNG’s) largest maritime Province,
with a sea area of approximately 110,000 km2 that contains some 32%
of the country’s total reef area (Munro, 1989; Dazell & Wright,
1986). The Province embraces the mountainous south-eastern-most tip
of mainland New Guinea, 10 relatively large islands and over 150
smaller islands of less than 10 km2 (Mooney, 1997), and includes
examples of all six types of Pacific islands - continental,
volcanic, atoll, raised reef, coral cay and makatea2. 36. Central
Province is one of the provinces of Papua New Guinea and is located
in its southern coast. It occupies the southern side of the Owen
Stanley Ranges and the area of coast from Bereina in the north to
Gaire Village in the south. It is comprised of five (5) districts,
namely: Abau, Goilala, Kairuku, Hiri, and Rigo. The proposed
navaids are located within the Abau (Marshall Lagoon); and
Kairuku-Hiri Districts (Padana Nahua Passage). 37. “The province
geographically extends along the south coast of the country sharing
common provincial boundaries with, Gulf to the west, Milne Bay to
the east, Morobe to the north, and Oro to the northeast. The major
land features of the province includes rugged mountainous
escarpments and rolling peaks in the hinterlands, while the coastal
lowlands are flat and intercepted by the lowland ridges.” (Central
Provincial Educational Plan 2007 – 2016). The major marine features
includes the Papuan coastal lagoon which covers a surface area of
some 200 sq. km. and borders the open ocean (Coral Sea) by a
discontinuous coralline barrier reef, referred to as the “Papuan
Barrier Reef” on the narrow continental shelf (Genolagani.
undated)3. The Papuan Barrier reef allows for formation of several
lagoons including the Marshall Lagoon in Kupiano.
A.1 Climatic Conditions 38. This presents information about the
physical environment of the provinces where the sites and navaid
locations of Contract 1 Package are located.
A.1.1 Rainfall
39. Summary rainfall information were acquired from two Weather
Offices in Milne Bay Province (Gurney and Misima), and two Weather
Offices in Central Province (Port Moresby
2 Raised coral limestone reef. 3 John Mark G. Genolagani,
National Parks Service, Office of Environment and Conservation,
Papua New Guinea, An Assessment on the Development of Marine Parks
and Reserves in Papua New Guinea (undated).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%27Entrecasteaux_Islandshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trobriand_Islandshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trobriand_Islandshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodlark_Islandhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiade_Archipelagohttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rossell_Island_%28Yela%29&action=edit&redlink=1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanatinaihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misima_Islandhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samaraihttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Deka_Deka_Islands&action=edit&redlink=1https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sideia&action=edit&redlink=1
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and Kupiano) of the National Weather Service of Papua New
Guinea. The recording period for these stations vary from 1990 –
2015 for the Milne Bay Province, and from 1965 – 1983 for both
Kupiano (Marshall Lagoon) and 1990 – 2015 for Port Moresby. The
information indicated variabilities in rainfall amount and periodic
distribution between and within provinces. 40. The mean annual
rainfall recorded in the Gurney Weather Office from 1990 to 2015
was 2,320.50 mm with a highest mean of 260.2 mm recorded for the
month of June while the lowest mean of 131.1 mm was recorded for
December. The highest annual rainfall recorded was 5,502.90 mm
while the lowest annual rainfall was 489.2 mm. Historical highest
rainfall were recorded for the months of October and November
(690.6 mm and 628.4 mm, respectively) while the lowest is December
(12.2 mm). The rainfall summary for this station is presented in
Table 4 below.
Table 4 Rainfall and Temperature Summary for the Period 1990 –
2015 (Gurney Weather Office)
Stat Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual
Mean Rainfall
155.1 163.8 210 222.9 220.2 260.2 184 164.1 193.4 191.5 224.2
131.1 2,320.50
MaxT 32.5 32.5 31.8 30.8 29.8 28.6 28 28.3 29.1 30.3 31.3 32.3
30.4
MinT 23 23.1 22.9 22.8 22.4 22.1 21.3 20.6 21.2 21.7 22.3 22.8
22.2
Lowest Rainfall
49.2 44.2 93.6 22 67.6 72.8 26 22.8 2.6 23.2 53 12.2 489.2
MaxT 31.1 30.5 30.4 29.2 28.5 27.6 27.2 27.2 28.1 29.2 30.2 31.5
29.2
MinT 20.9 22.2 21.2 21.8 20.5 19.8 19.9 18 18.5 19.3 20.5 21.9
20.4
Highest Rainfall
330.7 274.8 465.4 346.4 510.6 526.4 427.2 512.2 479.8 690.6
628.4 310.4 5,502.90
MaxT 34.1 33.7 32.9 32.9 30.9 29.5 29.1 29.3 30.4 31.6 33.2 33.1
31.7
MinT 24 23.6 23.9 23.5 23.7 23.3 22.5 22.8 22.7 23.1 23.5 23.6
23.4
Source: National Weather Service, Papua New Guinea.
41. On the other hand, the mean annual rainfall recorded in the
Misima Weather Office for the same period was 2,697.0 mm with a
highest mean of 309.1 mm recorded for the month of April while the
lowest mean of 107.2 mm was recorded for August. The highest annual
rainfall recorded was 6,535.0 mm while the lowest annual rainfall
was 526.6 mm. Historical highest rainfall were recorded for the
month of November (736.0 mm) while the lowest is July (17.0 mm).
The rainfall summary for this station is presented in Table 5
below.
Table 5 Rainfall and Temperature Summary for the Period 1990 –
2015 (Misima Weather Office)
Stat Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual
Mean Rainfall
238 292.1 295.3 309.1 261.6 219.9 122.6 107.2 177.9 214.1 240
219.2 2,697.00
MaxT 31.2 31.1 30.7 30.2 29.4 28.7 28.1 28.2 28.9 29.6 30.4 31
29.8
MinT 24.7 24.4 24.3 24.7 24.6 24.3 23.8 23.6 24.2 24.5 24.6 24.7
24.4
Lowest Rainfall
50.2 85.6 111.6 38 73.6 16.8 17 6.4 28.8 20.6 44.4 33.6
526.6
MaxT 29.9 30.2 29.8 29 28 27.7 27.1 27.2 27.8 28.6 29.4 29.8
28.7
MinT 24.2 23.5 23.6 24.1 23.8 23.7 21.8 20.9 22.7 23.6 23.9 23.5
23.3
Highest Rainfall
499 466.2 756.2 724.6 497 517.6 434.2 329 557.4 596.8 736 421
6,535.00
MaxT 32.1 32 31.3 31.3 30.4 30 29.2 29.3 30.4 30.7 31.6 32.1
30.9
MinT 25.4 25.3 24.6 25.7 25.5 25.1 24.7 24.6 25.1 25.2 25.5 25.6
25.2
Source: National Weather Service, Papua New Guinea
42. The mean annual rainfall recorded in the Kupiano (Marshall
Lagoon) Weather Office from 1965 to 1983 was 1,631.90 mm with a
highest mean of 228.7 mm recorded for the month of May while the
lowest mean of 70.9 mm was recorded for November. The highest
annual rainfall recorded was 4,757.10 mm while the lowest annual
rainfall was 252.6 mm. Historical
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19
highest rainfall were recorded for the month of June (799.4 mm)
while the lowest is September (0.0 mm). The rainfall summary is
presented in Table 6 below.
Table 6 Rainfall and Temperature Summary for the Period 1965 –
1983 (Kupiano Weather Office)
Stat Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual
Mean Rainfall
133 85.6 153.6 162.8 228.7 217.7 177.3 123.5 81.1 112.4 70.9
85.3 1,631.90
MaxT 34 32.3 31.8 28.8 28.4 31.1
MinT 23.9 23.6 24.1 22.1 23.4
Lowest Rainfall
59.1 43.5 2.4 37.3 46.2 10 25 7.6 0 13.6 2.6 5.3 252.6
MaxT 33.3 32 31.8 28.4 28.4 30.8
MinT 23.8 23.5 24.1 22 23.4
Highest Rainfall
288.2 190.2 327.4 569.1 666.9 799.4 544.8 381 190.5 280.2 271.2
248.2 4,757.10
MaxT 34.8 32.6 31.8 29.1 28.4 31.3
MinT 24.2 23.7 24.1 22.1 23.5
Source: National Weather Service, Papua New Guinea. 43. On the
other hand, the mean annual rainfall recorded in the Port Moresby
Weather Office for the same period was 1,194.70 mm with a highest
mean of 235.7 mm recorded for the month of March while the lowest
mean of 22.6 mm was recorded for August. The highest annual
rainfall recorded was 3,587.4 mm while the lowest annual rainfall
was 258.6 mm. Historical highest rainfall were recorded for the
month of June (456.2 mm) while the lowest are for the months of
May, July, August, October and November (0.0 mm). The rainfall
summary is presented in Table 7 below. Table 7 Rainfall and
Temperature Summary for the Period 1990 – 2015 (Port Moresby
Weather Office)
Stat Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual
Mean Rainfall 205.3 172.8 235.7 146.7 82.7 62.9 23.2 22.6 25.6
30.9 76.2 110.1 1,194.70
MaxT 32.2 31.9 31.5 31.3 31 30.4 29.9 30.1 30.9 31.7 32.3 32.6
31.3
MinT 23.6 23.6 23.5 23.5 23.4 23.1 22.6 22.5 22.9 23.4 23.8 24
23.3
Lowest Rainfall 78.8 69 49.8 48 0 0.6 0 0 0.2 0 0 12.2 258.6
MaxT 31 30.8 30.5 30.3 30 29.1 28.8 29 29.4 30.6 30.7 31.6
30.2
MinT 21.1 22.1 22.2 21.6 20.9 21.2 21 19.8 20 20.7 22.9 23.2
21.4
Highest Rainfall 420.4 303 414 325.6 403.6 456.2 111.8 99.2 92.4
169 433.2 359 3,587.40
MaxT 33.4 33.1 32.3 32.2 31.9 31.6 31.9 32.1 32.4 32.7 33.5 33.6
32.6
MinT 24.5 24.8 24.5 24.9 25.1 24.4 23.7 24.2 24.4 24.6 24.8 24.7
24.6
Source: National Weather Service, Papua New Guinea.
A.1.2 Temperature 44. Based from the summaries provided in
Tables 4, 5 and 6 above, mean annual temperatures also varies but
not significantly with mean maximum ranging from 30.40C (Gurney
Station), 29.80C (Misima Weather Office), 31.10C (Kupiano Weather
Office), and 31.30C (Port Moresby Weather Office; and mean minimum
ranging from 22.20C (Gurney Weather Office), 24.40C (Misima Weather
Office), 23.40C (Kupiano Weather Office), and 23.30C (Port Moresby
Weather Office. Comparatively however, temperatures are relatively
higher in Central Province than in Milne Bay Province.
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A.1.3 Climate Change 45. Climate change information specific for
Milne Bay and Central Provinces have not been accessed. The Pacific
Climate Futures project however has projected minimum temperature
increases of 1.1°C by mid-century for PNG. Globally, emissions are
tracking at the upper emissions scenarios. The location of PNG near
the Equator and its landforms contribute to high levels of
variation in climate among various regions of the country. This
climate variation means that accurate assessments of potential
climate change impacts in PNG require regional context. However, at
the national level, recent studies indicate that PNG’s climate is
indeed changing. For example:
(i) Annual and seasonal ocean and land surface temperatures have
increased by 0.6°C
to 1.0°C since 1910; (ii) Since the 1970s, decadal average
temperature has increased by 0.3°C to 0.5°C; (iii) Significant
increases have been observed in the annual number of hot days
and
warm nights, with significant decreases in the annual number of
cool days and cold nights.
A.2 Seismic Activity 46. The Milne Bay Province is one of the
areas in PNG that have islands containing volcanic fields.
According to the PNG National Disaster Centre, it is one of the
provinces prone to earthquakes together with East and West New
Britain, ABG, Morobe, Madang, East and West Sepik, Southern
Highlands, and Oro Provinces.
B. Biological Environment 47. The information about the
biological environment in the country presented in this section has
been adopted from the PNG State of the Coral Triangle Report (PNG
SCTR 2013). Baseline biological environment conditions of the
project sites are discussed separately based on pre-installation
assessments conducted by the PIU. 48. Papua New Guinea is located
in the Coral Triangle region that is known to be the world’s hot
spot for marine biodiversity. The country is vested with complex
marine habitats such as coral reefs, seagrass beds, mangroves, sand
and mud shore and intertidal flats, barrier dunes and their
associated lagoons like the rocky shorelines, reef walls and
drop-off areas. Marine organisms are associated with this array of
habitats and therefore are important components of the rich marine
biodiversity of Papua New Guinea (PNG Marine Program on Coral
Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security, 2010-2013). 49. PNG’s principal
marine and coastal ecosystems include 13,840 km2 of coral reefs,
4,200 km2 of mangrove swamp forests, and extensive seagrass beds.
The country is home to at least 500 species of stony coral, 1,635
reef-associated fish species, 43 mangrove species, and 7 seagrass
species. 50. Most of PNG’s coral reefs are of the fringing or patch
type, with extensive barrier reefs occurring only along the
country’s southern coast (e.g., the Motuan coastline), the
Louisiade Archipelago, and around the East Cape on the eastern
coast. Fringing and patch reefs predominate along the northern
coast (e.g., Madang) and the New Guinea islands. (PNG SCTR 2014).
51. Milne Bay. Milne Bay’s coastal and marine environments are
amongst the world’s most ecologically diverse and pristine. The
chief habitats include an extensive and complex system of submerged
and emergent coral reefs, including fringing reefs, platform/patch
reefs, barrier reefs and atolls, as well as mangrove forests,
seagrass beds, lagoons and mud, sand, rubble and rocky sea bottoms
(Conservation International, 1998).
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21
52. With over 429 coral species, 945 molluscan species,
approximately 199 reef fish species and seabird rookeries, Milne
Bay’s coastal and marine environments are amongst the world’s most
ecologically diverse and pristine. The chief habitats include an
extensive and complex system of submerged and emergent coral reefs,
including fringing reefs, platform/patch reefs, barrier reefs and
atolls, as well as mangrove forests, seagrass beds, lagoons and
mud, sand, rubble and rocky sea bottoms (Conservation
International, 1998). 53. Central Province. Most of the Central
Province coastline is surrounded by the Papuan Barrier Reef and
Lagoon proposing great diversity of habitat and microhabitats.
Barrier reef, fringing reefs, coastal lagoon, and mangrove habitat
provide habitats for hawksbill turtles, reef fishes, corals, and
marine invertebrates. 54. Previous studies done on the marine
biodiversity of the nearby and adjacent sea waters of Central
Province reported many diverse lifeforms dwelling in these waters.
Some of these were reported in a report titled ‘The Marine
Biodiversity and Ecology of the Kupiano Region’ by Mungkaje. The
following were taken from that report.
Marine mammals. Whales, dolphins and dugongs. Sightings of
whales are very few
and not properly recorded. In 2012, there was a carcass of a
dead whale that was washed ashore Barakau beach. Dolphins are more
common around PNG sea waters including waters of the Marshall
Lagoon. Dugongs are known to be harvested as food proteins by local
communities of the central coast and as such the population is now
almost close to depletion.
Marine Reptiles. Turtles and salt water crocodile. The hawksbill
and green turtle are
the main species of turtles common to this area. Saltwater
crocodiles though not common still can be sighted in the coastal
mangrove areas.
Palagic fish. Tunas, rainbow runners, mackerels and barracudas.
Caught by both
subsistence and artisanal fishermen along the Central Province
coast and various species of these groups are very common at the
city fish markets at Koki and Rainbow. With the pelagic fish there
are numerous residential reef fishes such as Damselfishes/ Wrasses;
Parrotfishes; Surgeon fishes; Butterfly fishes and Angelfishes that
dwell in the habitats provided by the extensive reef systems of the
area.
Marine Invertebrates. Echinoderms and crustaceans. Echinoderms
including sea
urchins, starfishes and sea cucumbers with crustaceans such as
crabs, shrimps, prawns and crayfish occur on coral reefs and
coastal waters all throughout the seawaters of Central
Province.
B.1 Biological environmental condition of the navaid locations
observed during the pre-installation assessments
B.1.1 Dawson Strait Navaid Locations
55. The Dawson Strait is located between eastern Fergusson and
western Normanby Islands in the D'Entrecasteaux island group of
Milne Bay Province. It contains a volcanic field with several
volcanic centers that define a possible partly submerged caldera.
There have been no historical eruptions from this center, but
morphology suggests an extremely young age for some lava flows, and
the area displays vigorous thermal activity. The most prominent
volcanic centers are Mounts Lamonai and Oiau, located about 10km
apart on the SW tip of Fergusson Island
(http://www.volcanodiscovery.com/dobu.html).
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56. A total of eight (8) navaids will be installed within this
strait. Their individual locations are presented in Table 8 and
indicated in Figure 1. Underwater and above water photographs are
provided for reference as shown following each location description
and in Annex 2.
Table 8 List of Navigational Aids for Installation in Dawson
Strait
S.N. Site Name
Location Name
Water Depth
Substrate type
AtoN Description
1
Dawson Strait
Gigipwala Point
2.0 m Sand Monopile in water, white, north cardinal 6 nm
2 Sebulugomwa Point
2.0m Sand and rubble
Monopile in water, white, south cardinal 4 nm
3 Dobu Island N-end
4.0m Sand Monopile in water, white, north cardinal 4nm
4 Waiope Island 3.0m Rubble Monopile in water, white north
cardinal 4 nm
5 Cape Doubtful S-end
4.0+m Rubble and sparse coral
Large Buoy with a three point mooring system
6
Yadayadala 4.0+m Rubble/ sand and sparse coral
Monopiles in water, white, east cardinal 4 nm
7 Cape Doubtful N-end
3.0m Sand/ Coral Monopile in water, white, east cardinal 6
nm
8 Sanaroa Island W-end
4.0m Sand Monopile in water, white, west cardinal 6 nm
Source: PIU Pre-installation Assessment, 31 July to September
2015.
Figure 1 Location of Navaids in Dawson Strait Source: Chartlet –
NMSA GIS; AtoN locations and arc of light representation: PIU
Pre-Installation Assessment (PIA), July to September 2015.
57. These locations are described as follows:
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58. Gigipwala Point. Gigipwala Point lies to the north of
Normanby Island. The location marks the inner corner within Dawson
Strait and will be clearly visible to marine traffic travelling in
either direction. It is situated approximately 20 to 30m from the
shore at low tide and will be approximately 50m offshore at high
water. The bottom substrate is mostly sand with some debris
scattered over the sandy seafloor. 59. The sandy substrate extends
to the point where there is a steady drop. There is not much marine
life or activity found on this sandy substrate except for the
presence of a few sea worms. Seagrass species of the genera
Halophila appear in small patches across the shallow waters towards
the shore but are not found around the site towards the drop. The
species Enhalus acoroides also occupy the calmer shallow waters
close to the community some 100m away from the beach end where the
point lies. The water depth at the location is about 2.0m. The
above water and underwater photographs for the location are shown
below.
Plate 1. Above water and under water photos of Gigipwala
Point
60. It was noted during the assessment that nearby to this
location in the deeper part of the reef, giant clam shells can be
found. These giant clam attract tourists who come to dive the reef
to see the clams. However, the area known to have these clam shells
is not in close proximity to the navaid location but is further
away in deeper waters. As the community is located close to the
point, the light from the beacon may present a nuisance. Light
screens may be put in place to reflect light going to the
community, or the light sector towards the community may be
blanked. 61. Sebulugomwa Point. Sebulugomwa Point is located at the
outermost part of the point that is protruding into the Dawson
Passage. It is approximately 500m offshore with a water depth of
about 2m at low tide. The bottom substrate was observed to be a
mixture of sand and coral with coral rubble. There were live corals
seen all throughout the reef with schools of small fish occupying
the edge of the reef towards the drop. A patch of area that was
sandy and rubble combined was chosen as the site. 62. This sandy
rubble site is about 3m2 in area and has corals in close proximity
of between 3-4m all around. A good young colony of Acropora corals
are present at about 15m from the site. The stretch of corals also
extends all the way back to the shallow waterfront areas towards
the shore. Above water and underwater photographs for the location
are shown below.
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Plate 2. Above water and under water photos of Sebulugomwa
Point
63. This coral re-growth site will have to be avoided when
selecting barge anchorage site and when manoeuvring the barge for
stabilization. Sea stars known as feather stars were also observed
on the reef flat. However, these are not known to be endangered or
in the IUCN red list but nonetheless the area around Sebulugomwa
Point is also known for conservation activities. The local
community is cautious about the bêche-de-mer in their waters
becoming endangered and are closely monitoring tourists that come
into the area. 64. Dobu Island N-end. The point where the navaid is
proposed to be located marks the extremity of the reef about the
northern end of Dobu Island for small craft operating in the
vicinity. It is adjacent to a high rock face and positioned
approximately 100m from the rock face in approximately 4.0m of
water at low tide. The selected location is directly opposite the
unmarked reef extending to the south east from Sebulugomwa Point.
65. The chosen location comprises a sandy substrate with a few
patches of corals and rubbles all around it. Corals with schools of
small fish were observed surrounding the proposed navaid location.
About 6m from the preferred location there is a mass of brain coral
approximately 3m wide. During installation, care must be taken to
ensure that physical impacts during barge manoeuvering and
stabilization to this coral is avoided. Above water and underwater
photographs for the location are shown below.
Plate 3. Above water and under water photos of Dobu Island
N-End
66. The mountain on the island is known to be a dormant volcano.
There is a hot spring at the shore about 200m from the location and
sulphur can be smelled all over the area. Dobu Island is one of 3
volcanic centres of the Dawson Strait Group.
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67. Waiope Island (Oayabe). The proposed navaid in the island
marks the north eastern extremity of a reef extending seaward from
Oawabe Island where heavy surf breaks upon the reef. The selected
location is protected by a further reef upon which the waves break
heavily. The substrate chosen for the navaid installation is mainly
made up of rubbles and consolidated rubbles. The proposed light
will be approximately 700m from the shore in a water depth of 3 m
at low tide. The reef poses a high risk to ships passing through
this area. There have been several incidents of ships and small
boats running aground onto this reef over the past years. Above
water and underwater photographs for the location are shown
below.
Plate 4. Above water and under water photos of Waiope Island
(Oayabe)
68. Cape Doubtful S-end (Sarubwaina). The location and aid to
navigation marks the south eastern end of a large reef extending
from Cape Doubtful Southern End. It is exposed to heavy weather
with a reportedly high swell occurrence for many months of the
year. Distance from the closest shoreline is approximately 2km.
Water depth at the location is greater than 4m at low water. An
area identified to be of coral rubbles was chosen as the location
for the navaid installation. Above water and underwater photographs
for the location are shown below.
Plate 5. Above water and under water photos of Cape Doubtful
S-end (Sarubwaina)
69. Yadayadala. Yadayadala Island is located adjacent to Cape
Doubtful S-end. The navaid was initially proposed to be placed at
the opposite Taulu Islet but was moved to this location instead due
to the lack of traffic rounding the south western corner of Sanaroa
Island and that the area is in uncharted/unsurveyed. The chosen
navaid location has sand and rubbles where the depth is
approximately 4.0m near low water and distance to the shore is
about 1 km. The above water and underwater photographs for the
location are shown below.
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Plate 6. Above water and under water photos of Yadayadala
70. Cape Doubtful N-end. The proposed location is positioned on
the northern tip of the mainland reef surrounding Cape Doubtful. A
small sandy substrate among corals was chosen as the site for
installation where the water depth at the site is approximately
3.0m at mid-tide height and the distance to the shore is
approximately 1.5 km. There is an extensive coral cover over the
reef surrounding the site. Therefore, precautionary measures need
to be taken when anchoring and manoeuvring the barge. Above water
and underwater photographs for the location are shown below.
Plate 7. Above water and under water photos of Cape Doubtful
N-end
71. Sanaroa Island W-end. This proposed location marks the port
side of the northern entrance to Dawson Strait and forms the
opposite side to the ‘gate’ from the Cape Doubtful N-end aid to
navigation. It is situated on the south western tip of the reef
surrounding Sanaroa Island W-end. This is the most western part of
the reef and forms the natural eastern side of the entrance ‘gate’.
It is approximately 1.5 – 2.0 km from the nearest point of land and
in about 4.0m of water at mid-tide. 72. The substrate on the reef
constitute mainly of sand, rubbles and corals. A sandy substrate
with few rubbles was selected as the installation location. Live
corals were observed to be present all over the reef zone. There is
a good extent of mangrove forest around Sanaroa Islands with mud
flat areas all along the shore. These will not be directly affected
by the installation activities. Above water and underwater
photographs for the location are shown below.
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Plate 8. Above water and under water photos of Sanaroa Island
W-end
B.1.2 Kiriwina and Kitava Islands Navaid Locations Kiriwina and
Kitava Islands are two of the four main islands of the Trobriand
Islands. Kiriwina is 40 kilometers long but only 3.2 to 12.8
kilometers wide, and the other islands are much smaller. Except for
Kitava, where cliffs rise sheer for 90 meters, the islands are
relatively flat, crosscut by swampy areas, tidal creeks, and rich
garden lands that abut rough coral outcroppings. Reefs may extend
up to 10 kilometers offshore; anchorage is often dependent upon
high tides and careful navigation. Its main station is Losuia.
Kitava is one of the Trobriand Islands, an archipelago of coral
atolls off the eastern coast of New Guinea. It is located about 25
km from Kiriwina. 73. A total of five (5) new navaids will be
installed within the waters off Kiriwina and Kitava Islands. Their
individual locations are presented in Table 9 and indicated in
Figures 2 and 3. Apart from the new installations that have been
surveyed there will also be rehabilitation work done on 14 existing
beacons at the main passage into Kiriwina wharf. Underwater and
above water photographs of the new locations are provided for
reference as shown following each location description and in Annex
2.
Table 9 List of Navigational Aids for Installation in Kiriwina
and Kitava Islands
S.N. Site Name
Location Name
Water Depth
Substrate type
AtoN Description
1
Kiriwina Island
Lousia Pile No. 2
3+ m Sand Monopile in water, red, port lateral 3 nm
2 Lousia Pile No. 3
3+ m Sand Monopile in water, green, stbd lateral 3 nm
3 Lousia Pile No. 4
3+ m Sand Monopile in water, red, port lateral 3 nm
4 Lousia Pile No. 14
3+ m Sand Monopile in water, red, port lateral, 3 nm
5 Kitava Island
Nuratu Island 3.0m Sand Monopile in water, white, north cardinal
10 nm
Source: PIU Pre-installation Assessment, 31 July to September
2015. 74. These are described as follows:
75. The Losuia Pile 2 (Port hand beacon) marks the effective
entrance to the Losuia Channel which provides a deep water approach
to the town jetty and boat landing area. It forms the pair of
entrance beacons and is essential to guide maritime traffic into
the critical part of the channel to ensure the ship is lined up
correctly for the remainder of the inward passage. This navaid will
be installed in sandy substrates in approximately 3m depth of
water.
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76. Losuia Pile 3 (starboard lateral) as it is shown on the NMSA
GIS chartlet, this marks the northern end of a shoal area which
has, apparently, been a grounding spot for many of the local small
vessels with loss of cargo and boats. This navaid will be installed
in sandy substrates in approximately 3m depth of water. 77. Losuia
Pile 4 (port hand) marks the narrow access waterway. This navaid
will be installed in sandy substrates in approximately 3m depth of
water. 78. Losuia Pile 14 (port hand) marks the northern side of
the channel at its narrowest part and is considered essential to
keep the passing marine traffic off the shallows immediately
adjacent to the north of the navaid. This navaid will be installed
in sandy substrates in approximately 3m depth of water.
Plate 9. Above water photos of Losuia Piles
Source: PIU Pre-installation Assessment, 31 July to September
2015.
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Figure 2 Location of Navaid at Losuia, Kiriwina Island Source:
Chartlet – NMSA GIS; AtoN locations: PIU Pre-Installation
Assessment (PIA), July to September 2015.
79. Kitava Island. The proposed navaid is located about 400m
from the beach at the northern end of Nurato Island. This marks the
northern extremity of the reef where the depth is approximately
3.0m. The substrate of the surrounding reef area consists of sand,
rubbles, live corals and algae. A sandy patch was identified and
chosen as the preferred location for the navaid. Sparse live corals
were observed within the 400m2 area of the navaid location. Strong
current ran in between the two islands of Nuratu and Kitava. The
navaid location is about 400 m away from the beach. There also
extends a good seagrass bed along the beach. Three species of
seagrass were identified, Syringodium, Thalassia hemprichii and the
lesser Enhalus acoroides. This seagrass bed is about 400m from the
proposed navaid location. Above water and underwater photographs
for the location are shown below.
Plate 10. Above water and under water photos of Kitava Island
Location
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Figure 3 Location of Navaid in Kitava Island Source: Chartlet –
NMSA GIS; AtoN locations and arc of light representation: PIU
Pre-Installation Assessment (PIA), July to September 2015.
B.1.3 Cannac Islet and Budibudi Island Navaid Locations 80.
Budibudi (Laughlan) Islands are located on the far north-eastern
sea of Milne Bay towards the Solomon Sea next to Woodlark Island.
Several small low lying islands group together to form an arc. A
very big open passage lies between Woodlark and Budibudi where the
only marker guiding the community travelling from Woodlark to
Budibudi is a rock in the middle of the sea. The rock identified as
Cannac Islet is approximately 10 nautical miles from Budibudi
islands and approximately 30 nautical miles from Woodlark Island.
This marks the big open passage lying between these two groups of
islands and which serves as their main navigation guide. The
proposed location shall be atop the bare rock of about 5m above sea
level. 81. Two (2) navaids are proposed to be installed in this
site. The first shall be located approximately 10 nautical miles
from Budibudi and at a key local navigational feature, Cannac Islet
while the other shall be located in Tamaris Reef as shown in Table
10 below and indicated in Figure 4.
Table 10 List of Navigational Aids for Installation in Budibudi
Islands S.N. Site
Name Location Name Water Depth Substrate
type AtoN Description
1
Budibudi Islands
Cannac Islet On-land pile Rock Modular (GRP or similar)
construction of a small tower, on a concrete footing
2 Tamaris Reef*
3 – 4 meters Hard reef and sand
Monopile in water, white light, isolated danger mark, 10 nm
Source: PIU Pre-installation Assessment, 31 July to September
2015. *Included based on request from the local community. 82. The
Cannac Islet navaid will provide greater safety for people
transiting between Woodlark and Budibudi whereby Cannac Islet can
provide certainty of direction and without such could result in
people being lost at sea. The light location on the relatively flat
top of Cannac Islet will provide good vision for approximately 10nm
in all directions. Above water photographs are provided for
reference as shown following the location description and in Annex
2.
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Plate 11. Above water photo of Cannac Islet
83. The surrounding marine environment of the islet for
anchoring the barge delivering materials for the construction of
the lighthouse was not assessed due to unavailability of boats but
a fly-by via helicopter indicates presence of a reef of
undetermined depth. Sand areas on the lee from weather should be
readily available. 84. A navaid installed at Tamaris Reef in
Budibudi Islands would assist seafarers in navigating the small
low-lying islands in the group. This which would also mark the
passage from the local reefs to the shore where the community
settlement can be found. The location on the reef where the navaid
will be established is made up mostly of sand and hard reef
substrate with an estimated water depth of 3-4 metres. Above water
and underwater photographs are provided for reference as shown
following the location description and in Annex 2.
Plate 12. Above water and under water photos of Tamaris Reef
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Figure 4 Location of Cannac Islet and Tamaris Reef (Budibudi
Islands)
Source: Chartlet – NMSA GIS; AtoN location: PIU Pre-Installation
Assessment (PIA), July to September 2015.
B.1.4 Deboyne Lagoon Navaid Locations 85. The Deboyne Lagoon is
on a group of large reefs and islands situated on the northern side
of the Louisiade Archipelago. The group's main islands include:
Panaeati, Panapompom, Brooker and Ware. A total of six (6) navaids
will be installed within the Deboyne Lagoon. Their individual
locations are presented in Table 11 and indicated in Figure 5.
Underwater and above water photographs are provided for reference
as shown following each location description and in Annex 2.
Table 11 List of Navigational Aids for Installation in Deboyne
Lagoons
S.N. Site Name
Location Name Water Depth
Substrate type AtoN Description
1
Deboyne Lagoon
Hobwaiwala (2) Unable to
confirm Reef Patch with sand*
Monopile in water, red, port lateral 6 nm
2 Hobwaiwala Monopile in water, green, stbd lateral 6 nm
3 West Passage North (Lenana)
0.2m Coral Reef Monopile in water, red, port lateral 6 nm
4 West Passage South
0.2m Coral reef Monopile in water, green, stbd lateral, 6nm
5