The arrival of a navy vessel in Aitape brings false fear to locals of next expected tsunami disaster.

The unexpected arrival of the HMS Melville in Aitape late last month, had a lot of people in Aitape fearing for their lives, for they had received the wrong information from various local sources that the vessel had brought with it advance notice of another tsunami disaster.

People residing in camps such as Fatima Hill, Yambo Kem, and many others were sent packing their bags in fear upon hearing the rumours.

However, what they didn't know was that the HMS Melville was a Navy Hydrographic Survey ship from Cairns, Australia who had come to PNG as part of a marine routine to assist PNG hydrographic surveyors update the nations' records and charts.

According to Lieutenant Carlton Longhurst, the Executive Office on board HMS Melville, PNG's national hydrographic records were last updated in 1971. They were also accompanied by a PNG hydrographic surveyor, Joseph Kadi from Chimbu, who is based in Alotau.

Apart from Aitape, they also went to Alotau, Kavieng, Manus, Kimbe and Madang, and from here they will be traveling onward to Vanimo then to Wewak which will be their last port before heading back to Australia.

Aitape Star was also told that the naval surveyors were also here to re-establish land marks, one located opposite of Mete Beach club and one on the wharf with Australian plaques.