Govt gives two ships to Papua

JAYAPURA, Papua: Umar Rusdi, a senior official at the Ministry of Communications handed over on Tuesday two passenger ships to the Papua administration on behalf of the central government.

The hand-over ceremony was held at Jayapura Port in the Papua capital of Jayapura. The Papua administration was represented by governor JP Salossa.

The Papua II, built by PT Industri Perkapalan Indonesia, is 750 deadweight tons, has a capacity of 368 passengers and 300 tons of cargo, and cost the state Rp 19 billion; the Papua III, built by PT Kodja Bahari, is 350 deadweight tons, has a capacity of 116 passengers and 130 tons of cargo, and cost Rp 12 billion.

The two ships has increased the Papua provincial fleet to three passenger ships.

The Papua I was the first ship provided by the central government and has been in operation since October 2002.

The Papua II will operate in waters off the northern coast of Papua, while the Papua III will operate along the southern coast. -- JP