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)