O’Neill to visit survivors in Lae

PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill will visit survivors and families of people still missing of the mv Rabaul Queen ferry disaster today in Lae, Morobe province.
Rescuers have put the number of missing at about 180 with 243 survivors brought to Lae.
He will be accompanied by East and West New Britain governors Leo Dion and Peter Humphreys, whose people were mostly affected by the tragedy.
Rescue operations are continuing in and around Morobe waters and will continue for as long as funds are available.
Morobe’s acting provincial administrator and disaster chairman Patillas Gamato, when briefing leaders from Autonomous Region of Bougainville and East New Britain yesterday, suggested the bad weather and overloading could have contributed to the sinking of ill-fated passenger vessel.
He also did not rule out possible negligence on the part of the captain and crew. He said they should have anchored at one of the islands along the way to wait out the strong winds and high seas.
Gamato said doors at the bottom deck of the three-decked vessel were reportedly locked which could have resulted in many passengers being unable to exit as the ship tilted twice and sank.
Currently estimated to be sitting 1,600m below, specialist divers and equipment are required to safely reach it.
Morobe provincial disaster office is seeking assistance from naval officers from Australia and the United States to help salvage the sunken mv Rabaul Queen.
Detectives have obtained statements from the captain and crew and are continuing interviews with  243 survivors.
“I am deeply saddened by this shipping tragedy which claimed hundreds of lives last Thursday. I convey my sincere condolences to the families of those lost at sea,” O’Neill said.
“We hope and pray for the families affected and especially the ones still missing.
“I am grateful for the quick assistance from the six international ships following a distress call sent out by the sinking ship. “
He thanked the Australian government, the Morobe provincial government, the national disaster office and the Morobe disaster centre for ensuring that survivors were taken care of at the centre.
He also thanked volunteers and locals involved in the search and rescue mission.
O’Neill said the government would be conducting an investigation to ascertain the cause of the disaster near Finschhafen about nine nautical miles from Lae.