Peace Winds’ Operations Through Our Versatile Ship in Palau
Peace Winds operates the Kensing II ship in Palau, one of the country’s largest ships and among the very few of its kind. It can be equipped with essential medical supplies and equipment, and with doctors and nurses on board, it has safely delivered basic healthcare to the extremely remote and underserved Southwest Islands over the past several years. Now, other groups are approaching Kensing II with new ways of drawing on its many capabilities. Beyond its medical role, Peace Winds also uses the ship as a platform to help other public and nonprofit organizations carry out their work in remote areas.
Most recently, Kensing II supported an ecosystem restoration project led by Island Conservation, an international nonprofit organization working to protect and restore island ecosystems around the world. This was carried out in partnership with Palau’s Sonsorol state government.
The project aims to restore coastal ecosystems and improve nesting habitats for seabirds by removing invasive species that threaten native ecosystems on these remote islands. This will also help protect crops that are an important source of food for local communities and contribute to their long-term, sustainable development.
Kensing II played a vital role by transporting personnel, equipment, and supplies to Palau’s Southwest Islands. In places like this, reliable transportation is often the deciding factor in a project’s success.
Island Conservation staff joined the voyage along with the equipment and supplies, including the materials and chemicals needed to remove invasive species. The ship departed from Koror, and once it arrived, Kensing II also served as an offshore base, supporting the project team and helping the work run smoothly.
“Ensuring safe and reliable transportation to the Southwest Islands was critical to fulfilling a long-standing goal shared by Island Conservation and the communities of Sonsorol,” said Richard, Island Conservation’s Senior Director for the Pacific region.
“Peace Winds’ support was essential to making this ecosystem restoration project possible. Healthy island ecosystems not only strengthen community resilience to climate change, but also help restore crops and native plants, as well as coastal coral reefs and fish populations. This project represents an important step toward securing a sustainable future for communities living in remote areas.”
In Palau, where transportation between islands is a persistent challenge, Kensing II fills that gap. It has been a lifeline for the Southwest islands, delivering medical care, maintaining essential infrastructure, and moving critical supplies to communities where scheduled trips are few and far between. Its large 131-foot hull and onboard crane also make Kensing II extremely versatile–it has rescued grounded vessels, supported research activities, and served as a resource for emergency response across the islands.
Crossing the Pacific to deliver the people and supplies needed wherever they are needed, Peace Winds will continue to support Palau’s islands and communities through the use of Kensing II.