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.