The YWAM training and medical ship 'Pacific Link', is currently sailing from Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, to Townsville, Australia, toward its likely retirement.
The replacement vessel, 'Ammari', is the focus of a major fundraising campaign, with approximately A$4.8 million (US$4.2 million) still to be raised by early December to secure its purchase.
The vessel will be dedicated fulltime to serve isolated villages in the Southern Region of PNG, as well as the Huon-Gulf of Morobe Province, PNG.
According to YWAM Medical Ships Managing Director, Ken Mulligan, the 'Pacific Link's' retirement was the end of an era, with the vessel delivering over 249,000 health, training and capacity building outputs since 2020.
"But at this point, our work has outstripped the capacity of that vessel. The 'Ammari' will allow for a 500 per cent increase in our program activities and bring hope to more communities in remote areas," he said.
The final outreach voyage completed by the 'Pacific Link' was a pilot program into Milne Bay Province where, among a wide range of activities, 72 people received sight-restoring eye surgery as YWAM volunteers worked alongside the local ophthalmology team.
As the date for securing the 'Ammari' looms closer, the deposit on the new vessel has been secured from the PNG Department of National Planning and Monitoring.
Discussions are ongoing regarding a range of other funding opportunities to see the remaining funds secured.
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