 In 1759 Captain William Wilson sailing in the East Indiaman "Pitt" navigated these waters and named the channel between Batanta and Salawati Pitt Strait, after his vessel, or equally, her namesake.He also named the two islands King George's Island and Prince of Wales's Island, but these names did not prove as durable as that of the strait.The area of the Dampier Strait and Pitt Strait are a Marine Protected Area for cetaceans.