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)