Sunken vessel 'Ashigara' to be salvaged in August

Sunken vessel 'Ashigara' to be salvaged in August

JAKARTA (JP): A massive salvage operation to raise the sunken
Japanese warship Ashigara in the Bangka Straits is due to begin
in August.

The project, undertaken by Indonesian company PT Arimic Putra
Pratama Mulia (APPM), which claims to have been given permission
by the government, is expected to take up to three years and cost
an estimated US$25 million.

The 13,000 ton, 204-meter long ship was sunk by a torpedo in
June 1945 as it was making its way to Singapore and then on to
Japan.

Some 1,000 of the 1,600 sailors aboard are believed to have
gone down along with its cargo which included weapons and other
valuable items.

Oshima Yoichi, head of Nippon Entaples, and Kiyoshi Nakatsuka,
former president of Kishiwada Rotary Club, who are partners of
the Indonesian company, said a survey was conducted on the sunken
ship last month.

Oshima noted that based on the video films taken, there were
hundreds of skeletons along with tanks, gold and other valuables
in the shipwreck.

Some 50 people are expected to work on the salvage project
which will include experts brought in from China.

The issue of sunken treasure in Indonesian waters has gained
increasing attention recently with the successful salvage of
several ships carrying centuries old ceramics.

According to Presidential Decree No. 43/1989, on the recovery
of underwater treasure, the government is entitled to 50 percent
of the net (after tax) profits from the sale of recovered
valuables.

The often overlooked value of this treasure was further
highlighted by Minister of Maritime Exploration and Fisheries
Sarwono Kusumaatmadja who claimed earlier this year that
underwater treasure could help pay off Indonesia's foreign debt.
(leo)