ELCPNG to strengthen Maritime Ministry with New Vessel, MV Karkar
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea (ELCPNG) is expanding its long-established maritime ministry with the construction of a new vessel for its shipping company, Lutheran Shipping Services (LSS).
In a statement made in July 2025, ELCPNG General Secretary Mr Bernard Kaisom said LSS is steadily rebuilding its capacity to provide safe, reliable, and community-focused services to coastal and island communities.
He said the Church Council’s decision to revive LSS was implemented with a renewed emphasis on serving the needs of rural populations who continue to face transport hardships.
“Many coastal and maritime communities still struggle with safe sea transportation. The church is committed to filling this gap by providing regular and reliable services,” Mr Kaisom.
Rebuilding Shipping Services
LSS resumed operations in October 2018 when MV Mamose returned to service after refurbishment, followed by the arrival of MV Ialibu in February 2019, which began regular operations in April that year.
Today, LSS operates these two vessels through an outsourcing arrangement with IROK Services. The fleet provides vital transport links between Lae, Finschhafen, Wasu, Lablab, Gloucester, Kimbe, Wewak, Vanimo, Oro Bay, Madang and several other coastal ports.
Introducing MV Karkar
Mr Kaisom announced that a new cargo–passenger catamaran is being built as the latest addition to the LSS fleet. The vessel is a modified version of MV Ialibu and is designed to support farmers, small business operators, families and travellers by carrying both passengers and cargo safely.
The vessel has been officially named MV Karkar.
“The name was proposed and endorsed by the Church Council and reflects Karkar Island’s contribution to the life and mission of our church.”
In September, MV Karkar was launched by the ship builder into the water as work progressed. It is expected to reach Papua New Guinea waters in the first quarter of 2026, once final works and approvals are completed.
Why the Name “Karkar”?
Karkar Island holds a significant place in Lutheran mission history.
The Lutheran mission in Papua New Guinea began with Johann Flierl at Simbang in 1886. A few years later, Lutheran missionaries from the Rhenish Missionary Society established a station at Urit (now Kulbob Bay) on Karkar around 1890, showing that the island was one of the earliest sites of evangelism outside Finschhafen.
In the years that followed, Pacific Islander missionaries—particularly from Samoa—supported mission work on Karkar and in the Madang region. Today, one of the circuit on ELC-Karkar district is called the ELC Samoan Circuit which honours this heritage, with many families still carrying Samoan names such as Asafo, Toa, and Jerome.
Karkar has also been a long-standing centre for Lutheran ministry in education and health, including the development of Gaubin Lutheran Hospital, which continues to serve the island and surrounding communities.
“The name MV Karkar appreciates the district’s contribution to the church and to the development of Papua New Guinea, especially as we look toward the country’s 50th Independence anniversary,” Mr Kaisom.
