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An attack while docked or at anchor drastically changes the nature of a port call. On the night of August 20, 2026, Tara experienced this firsthand near Wewak, in Papua New Guinea, on the eve of her departure from the region.
An armed break-in while Tara was at anchor
The Tara Ocean Foundation's schooner was anchored near Wewak after two and a half months of scientific research conducted as part of the Tara Coral 2026?2028 expedition.
Shortly before 11:00 p.m. on August 20, about ten armed men approached the sailboat in a motorboat.
The group forced their way onto the Tara. The officer on duty and several crew members were threatened, and the assailants demanded money and valuables.
The attack occurred under circumstances familiar to the crews: the ship was at a standstill, navigation had been suspended, but a sailor was on watch at all times.
Five minutes are all it takes to throw a crew into disarray
The break-in was brief. About 5 minutes after they arrived, the intruders had taken several items, including computer equipment and personal belongings. They then left Tara when the ten people on board woke up.
There were no fatalities. However, one crew member sustained minor injuries.
Tara continues the Coral Expedition to Palau
The attack did not bring the scientific mission to an end. After the incident, the Tara left Papua New Guinea and resumed its voyage to Palau. It is scheduled to arrive there on August 27, 2026.
This leg is part of the Tara Coral expedition, scheduled for 2026?2028. The schooner is carrying out a program dedicated to the study of marine environments with scientific teams on board.
An armed intrusion lasting just a few minutes is enough to bring home a reality that long voyages sometimes make us forget: a crew can be more vulnerable at anchor than on the open sea. Tara is now continuing on its way to Palau, with its scientific campaign still underway, but its stopover in Papua New Guinea will be forever marked by this attack.
