14 Feb 2012

New PNG ferry disaster tally lists 183 people as missing

10:08 pm on 14 February 2012

A new estimate puts the number of people who lost their lives in Papua New Guinea when a ferry sank nearly two weeks ago at 183.

The MV Rabaul Queen sank in rough seas near the end of a 20-hour journey from Kimbe to PNG's second largest city, Lae, on 2 February.

The Post Courier newspaper says the tally was provided by the Star Shipping company, which operated the Rabaul Queen.

The survivor registration log also reveals only 200 passengers were rescued.

Last Friday, the Morobe Provincial Disaster Management Office said the number of people rescued had been recalculated as 237.

It also said information from relatives of those on board put the number of people missing at 321.