The Sealark berthed at the Bismark Maritime wharf at Lae Papua New Guinea

on April 7 2006 after a voyage from Port Moresby to Oro Bay, Alotau and then Lae.The Sealark was on its 18th run on that route which had proven popular with locals taking advantage of its cheap fares to travel between Port Moresby and Lae.   A fire which started at about 1.45pm engulfed the ship.

Ivan Fruelda suffered horrific burns in the fire as he tried to escape. He had been  in his cabin when the fire broke out and engulfed the passageway, his only way out to safety.

The ship was not fitted with working smoke alarms or basic safety equipment. In fact, before the Sealark was allowed to commence work in New Guinea waters, the vessel was sent to Cebu (Philippines) to be refitted and supposedly made safe for working in  New Guinea.

The crew of the Sealark were told  that a well known, insurance company would be inspecting the sea worthiness and safety equipment on the Sealark.  Members of the crew stated  they were shocked the Sealark past its safety inspection.

They  brought their concerns about the state of the Ship, and lack of safety equipment to the representative of the insurance company and safety officer at that time.                                 

Left: Ivan Before 07/04/2006   Right: Ivan after

Ivan Fruelda received 3rd degree burns to over 52% of his body. Both his ears were burnt off due to the heat of the fire.

Ivan Fruelda was not medivact to Australia for five days after the fire, although he had received horrific injuries that could not be treated by doctors in Papua New Guinea.

Ivan was working at the time of the fire for an Australian man called Hamish Sharp, owner of Bismark Maritime Pty Ltd.

Hamish Sharp cut off all money to Ivan Fruelda even though he had a work contract.

By October 2006 there were $565,000.00 PNG Kina, worth of unpaid medical bills left at Brisbane Royal Womens Hospital.

Hamish Sharp has not even atempted to contact Ivan Fruelda personaly since the fire, Mr Sharp has refused to even answer any of Ivan's attempts to contact him. Bismark Maritime Pty Ltd has a website were Hamish Sharp shows off his fleet of vessels. www.bismarkmaritime.com /services.htm

Ivan has no income & has had to rely on charity to survive, since being discharged prematurely from Brisbane Royal Hospital & sent back to the Philippine in October 2006.

MV Sealark 2006