Irian Jaya asks for new ships

Irian Jaya asks for new ships

MERAUKE, Irian Jaya: Merauke legislators are urging the
transportation ministry to send new ships to Merauke and withdraw
a number of vessels which are no longer seaworthy.

AB Ohoiwutun of the Merauke legislative council said here on
Monday the local assembly would soon write to the director
general of sea transportation in Jakarta to respond to the
sinking of the MV Bimas Raya II in the waters off Habe last
Monday.

The ill-fated vessel was carrying 339 passengers when it went
down in the ocean.

Of the 339 passengers, 73 have been found, including 38
bodies.

Ohuiwutun said the council also would ask sea transportation
authorities to impose stricter requirements and conditions on the
tender for boats plying Irian Jaya's waters to prevent a repeat
of the accident.

He said past tenders involved corruption, collusion and
nepotism, so many of the ships were not seaworthy, including the
MV Bimas Raya II.