4 Feb 2012

Bad weather hampers search for PNG ferry survivors

10:18 pm on 4 February 2012

The Maritime Safety Authority in Papua New Guinea says weather is hampering the search operation looking for survivors of the sunken ferry MV Rabaul Queen.

The 22-year-old MV Rabaul Queen sank on Thursday morning near the end of its 20-hour journey between Kimbe, on the island of New Britain, and Papua New Guinea's second largest city, Lae.

The number of survivors is 246, while about 100 people remain unaccounted for.

National Maritime Safety Authority spokesperson Captain Nurur Rahman says seven fixed wing-aircraft, two helicopters and seven merchant ships are involved in the search.

He says they're still hopeful of finding survivors but the weather conditions are slowing the process down.

Captain Rahman says there are strong winds and a swell of three to four metres.

He says debris has been spotted 50 nautical miles from the site of the sinking.

The number of people rescued was updated from 238 to 246 on Saturday after a recount of survivors in hospital.

Concern fleet not suited to conditions

The owner of the vessel that sank is continuing to operate other ferries in Papua New Guinea, despite disquiet over the age and suitability of the fleet.

Captain Rahman says the shipping company has a fleet of about five similar ferries which are old and not suited to ocean conditions around the country.

However, he says the Rabaul Shipping Company has not previously had problems with safety and stopping it from operating could cause the country to grind to a halt.

The authority says the ferries were formerly used in Japan where the ocean conditions are calmer than in Papua New Guinea.

The Rabaul Shipping Company says the Rabaul Queen travelled the same route on a weekly basis for 11 years and was put into dry dock and serviced last year.

The government has ordered the authority to investigate the cause of the sinking once the recovery phase is complete.