The scientific schooner Tara, on a multi-year mission to study coral resilience in the Pacific, was boarded by armed pirates in Papua New Guinea on the night of August 20. The Tara Ocean Foundation, which operates the vessel, confirmed the attack in a statement released Monday, August 24.
Nighttime Assault Near Wewak
The incident occurred while the schooner was anchored near the town of Wewak, following what the foundation described as a successful research campaign conducted in cooperation with local authorities and communities. Shortly before 11 p.m., a group of approximately ten armed men approached the vessel in a motorboat.
According to the foundation, the assailants forced their way aboard, threatening the officer on watch and other crew members while demanding money and valuables. Computer equipment and personal belongings were stolen before the attackers fled as the entire ten-person crew awoke.
Crew Safe and Mission Continues
Romain Troublé, director general of the Tara Ocean Foundation, moved quickly to reassure families and partners. “All crew members are safe and the vessel is continuing its route as planned,” Troublé stated. Local authorities and the embassy were immediately alerted, and an investigation is underway.
The Tara departed from Lorient, France, in December and has been navigating the Coral Triangle, a maritime region west of the Pacific Ocean encompassing waters off Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Often called the “Amazon of the ocean,” this area contains a third of the world’s coral reefs and three-quarters of known coral species.
Tara Coral Expedition Goals
The ongoing Tara Coral mission, scheduled to run until November 2027, aims to understand why and how certain corals resist global warming. The research is intended to inform future conservation strategies for this critical marine biodiversity.
Despite the attack, the foundation confirmed that the sailboat and its crew have resumed navigation toward their next scientific stop: the archipelago of Palau.
