25 June 2006: Introducing Lucy, our very own Sawmill!

by Marit Wechsler

Andrew is still in Sorong, waiting for the delivery of our brand spanking new speed boat and engine from Jakarta. Sianiri, the cargo ship carrying our goodies, broke down en route. The latest news is that the cargo is all safe and Sianiri is being towed from Ambon to Sorong by a tugboat - ETA is tomorrow!

Although frustrated by the delay, Andrew, Tuta and Thorben have been making the most of their time in Sorong, which is quite possibly one of the dullest port towns in the world.

They caught up with some of our friends from Conservation International, who filled them in on the latest news in Raja Ampat. An agreement has been reached with the local communities around the island of Kofiau, which sits to the north west of Misool, to create another Marine Protected Area.  CI also is planning start patrols of the region, including Misool. This will help to deter illegal fishing and keep this area in its pristine state.

They also completed the necessary training course on MER's new portable saw mill. This Australian-made sawmill, affectionately dubbed 'Lucy,' is ideal for MER, as it will allow us to salvage the huge fallen trees which are found on the beaches surrounding the resort. We plan to use this timber in the construction as well as to build gorgeous furniture. This will help us maintain our commitment minimize the environmental impact of construction.

Thorben getting to know Lucy.

Tuta waiting for his turn.

For the technical ones among you, she’s 9.5m by 3.5m and runs on twin 215Hp turbo diesel engines with jet drives at up to 30 knots. For the rest of us, that means a fast, safe, comfortable ride.

The jet drives are perfect for a dive boat as there is no external propeller, and she's got a platform on the back with a ladder for getting back onto the boat.