Sunken ferry is not seaworthy: Official<\/p>\n
AMBON, Maluku (JP): The Masnait ferry which was sank on Sunday
\nkilling at least 41 people, was not supposed to ply sea routes
\nbecause it was designed to operate on lakes and rivers, an
\nofficial said on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Acting chief of the province's Ministry of Communications
\noffice Bob Halattu told a hearing with local legislators here
\nthat the ship was \"in good condition\" but was not strong enough
\nto negotiate strong waves and winds in an open sea.<\/p>\n
\"Riots that rocked the islands around Ambon forced the ship to
\nmake a stopover in Gudang Arang Port to pick up passengers en
\nroute to Waipirit Port on Seram island via the Leihitu sea, which
\nwas not its original route,\" Bob said.<\/p>\n
He added that the Masnait had replaced state vessels which
\nwere not operational during the riots, which have subsided in the
\npast three months.<\/p>\n
Bob said the vessel used to ply a shorter route between
\nHunimua on Ambon island to Waipirit on Seram island, which took
\nless than an hour due to the steady and safe waters.<\/p>\n
The boat was believed to be carrying at least 130 passengers
\nwhen it sank in the Leihitu waters off Ambon between Tanjung
\nHutumuri and Tanjung Tial in Salahatu subdistrict. The manifest
\nlisted 62 passengers and 12 crew members.<\/p>\n
A rescue team has so far recovered 41 bodies, while 85 people
\nsurvived.<\/p>\n
However, Bob refused to give details about the cause of the
\nincident.<\/p>\n
\"The investigation is underway to check for technical
\nproblems. It is most likely that the ship was overloaded,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Relatives of the ferry's passengers visited the gubernatorial
\noffice on Wednesday to demand that the provincial administration
\nclarify the death toll.<\/p>\n
\"Dozens are reportedly still missing and we want to know what
\nhappened to them. We want details of the victims, the cause of
\nthe accident and the institutions responsible for this disaster,\"
\nthe group's spokesman Robert Rikimahu said.<\/p>\n
Bob said the casualties listed on the manifest were all
\ncovered by insurance from the state company PT Jasa Rahardja.<\/p>\n
\"As for other passengers who were not listed, further
\narrangements will be set. The insurance company will cross-check
\nthe data with related institutions and relatives of the victims,\"
\nhe said. (48\/49\/edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sunken-ferry-is-not-seaworthy-official-1447893297",
"image": ""
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