PT PAL launches RI's biggest ship

SURABAYA: State ship maker PT PAL Indonesia has completed the making of a big cargo ship, believed to be the largest ever produced by this country.

The 45,000 dead weight ton, double-skin bulk carrier, the Cemara, is 189.9 meters long, and 30.5 meters wide. It was ordered by Hong Kong-based shipping company Fairmont Shipping HK, Ltd. It was handed over on Thursday by PT PAL chief Adwin Suryohadiprodjo to Fairmont chairman Alexander Robert Ho during a ceremony held in Surabaya.

Adwin said the Cemara was the third ship made by PT PAL on the orders of Fairmont. The two other ships, the Ramin and Ebony, were completed in March and October 2002, respectively.

Adwin said both ships had sailed the world in the past two years with no problems. -- JP