Research boat drifts ashore

Research boat drifts ashore

PEKALONGAN, Central Java: Two Australian researchers bound for
Batam island, Riau, drifted ashore here on Thursday after their
boat ran out of fuel.

The researchers, Robert John Wahmsley, 57, and his wife
Patricia Marry, said they left Australia in April with Thailand
as their final destination.

They said they were conducting studies on coastal communities
along the way. So far they have visited and studied communities
in Benoa, Bali, and Pacitan, East Java. They said the next stop
would be Batam.

Abdul Rochim, port administrator in Tegal, Central Java, said
the researchers had all necessary documents and had been allowed
to continue their journey after refueling. (wah)