Ferry Sinks off Papua New Guinea

Feb 3, 2012

Radio New Zealand

The 22-year-old Japanese-built MV Rabaul Queen went down early 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.  So far, 238 survivors have been rescued but searchers have yet to find any bodies.  It is feared 100 bodies are trapped inside the ferry. 

The ferry had an official limit of 310 people, but the ship's owner reports 362 people were on board.  A journalist says passengers are reporting there were more than 500 people on board.  Passengers say the ship was overcrowded and running on just one engine when it sank about 16km offshore.
 

UK Committee Favours EU Carbon Curbs

Jan 30, 2012

Lloyd’s List

Shipping has reacted angrily to accusations that its insistence on an international cap-and-trade solution to curbing its carbon emissions is a delaying tactic.  A report from the UK parliamentary select committee on energy and climate change has suggested that discussions at the IMO are progressing too slowly to be able to provide a meaningful reduction to shipping’s CO2 emissions. The committee report suggests the EU should push ahead with its plans for finding a solution for shipping, recommending the industry’s possible inclusion in the region’s emissions trading scheme.