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Canoe now voyaging from NZ to Saipan
Saipan will soon welcome back three traditional navigators and its first Polynesian-inspired canoe that is being eyed for transportation and cargo to the Northern Islands.
The company, called Okeanos Sustainable Sea Transport, which is based in Auckland, New Zealand, has completed building its newest vaka motu (Polynesian canoe), called the Okeanos Marianas, that will be used on Saipan.
According to Emma Perez, managing director of Okeanos Sustainable Sea Transport Ltd., the vaka motu will be used in the Marianas for sustainable transportation of individuals and cargo to the Northern Islands.
“It will provide regular transportation to the Northern Islands, cargo trips to Tinian, trips to Rota,” said Perez.
Andrea Carr, John Sablan, and Devin Noisom of Saipan made their way to Auckland on July 31, 2017, and assisted in building the Okeanos Marianas in June.
After seven weeks of construction and sea trials, Carr, Sablan, and Noisom set sail for the Marianas on Sept. 20, 2017, and will be arriving on Saipan in October.
Master navigator Peia Patai is accompanying them in their voyage back to Saipan.
Okeanos Marianas is a Polynesian-inspired canoe that was built from state-of-the-art material, modernizing the traditional canoe. It is over 50 feet in length and cost over $500,000 to build.
“She’s a 50-foot, double-hulled Polynesian canoe. It is based from an original design but built out of completely modern material. She’s a state-of-the-art canoe,” said Perez.
According to her, the vessel is scheduled to arrive on Saipan between Oct. 22 and 27, depending on the weather condition.
The Saipan-based 500 Sails organization and the Okeanos Sustainable Sea Transport Ltd. intend to welcome the voyagers and the vaka motu.
“We plan to have a huge welcoming because in this particular voyage, Peia will be coming back full circle, with the gift that Mau Piailug gave him of traditional navigation,” said Perez.
As of yesterday evening, the Okeanos Marianas was located at S 26 35.4 E170 42.9 CO 358, with a speed of 4 knots, according to the Okeanos Sustainable Sea Transport Ltd.’s Facebook page.
