‘We thought we were going to die’: Toronto native recalls experience aboard ship that sank in South Pacific
Author Kat Finnerty, who’s originally from Toronto, reflects on her terrifying experience aboard the M.V. Matui
On September 11, 2026, the M.V. Matui ferry sank off the coast of Vanuatu, resulting in a feared loss of life. Toronto native Kat Finnerty, who lives in Vanuatu but was visiting family at the time, shared her harrowing experience aboard the vessel just over a year ago. Finnerty and her daughter boarded the ship after a trip to the volcano island of Ambae, where they had to return to Santo island.
As there were no planes available, they sought the services of the M.V. Matui, which they paid $30 for the trip. Initially, the journey seemed promising with beautiful weather, but as they ventured into open waters, the situation turned perilous. Turbulent seas and water flooding the boat left the passengers in terror. At one point, the captain warned Finnerty, "This is not good."
The four-hour planned trip turned into a 12-hour ordeal before they finally made it to shore, feeling incredibly fortunate to survive. However, the tragedy of the sinking remains deeply troubling, with 39 people still missing and feared dead. Finnerty expressed her relief at their survival, but also the immense gratitude they felt for narrowly escaping such a dire situation.
The incident has sparked concern over maritime safety in Vanuatu, as the M.V. Matui was not properly authorized to carry passengers and had been previously warned of overloading by inspectors. Finnerty, an author known for writing about overcoming personal challenges including a battle with multiple sclerosis, hopes that this tragedy will serve as a wake-up call for improved safety measures in the South Pacific.
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