Tanjung Intan port returns to normal

Tanjung Intan port returns to normal

CILACAP, Central Java: Activities at the state-owned Pelabuhan
Indonesia III in Tanjung Intan port has returned to normal
following an accident last June when a Singapore-based oil tanker
MT King Fisher hit a coral reef, spilling its cargo into the
surrounding waters, an official said on Friday.

The company's head of the legal information division Susiana
said the incident had significantly affected activities in the
port and reduced the number of visiting foreign and local ships.

The company's data shows that only 750 ships visited the port
in the past eight months, compared to 1,198 ships during the same
period last year.

Susiana said the company had suffered significant financial
losses due to the reduced number of ships docking at its port.

The MT King Fisher, carrying 600,000 barrels of crude oil,
struck the coral reef shortly after it entered the port,
polluting the surrounding waters.

The ship owner had covered the financial losses claimed by
various parties, including the Rp 18 billion by 20,000 local
fishermen and another Rp 2 billion out of a total of Rp 16
billion that was claimed by state-owned oil and gas company
Pertamina. (45/lup)