Sharp court date set for March 20

 COURT proceedings for Rabaul Shipping Company owner Capt Peter Sharp and others in the Kokopo district court have been set for March 20.

Files will be tendered in court by the prosecution.

The case is in relation to the sinking of the passenger ferry mv Rabaul Queen in rough seas off Finschhafen on Feb 2, 2012. 

More than 200 people died.

Sharp, Capt Anthony Tsiau, chief mate Michael Zirau, Kimbe port manager Grace Amen and NMSA Rabaul manager Titus Kabiu appeared for mention at the district court last Friday.

Sharp, 69, is facing 173 counts of manslaughter and for sending an unseaworthy vessel to sea.Tsiau 54, from Nissan Island, in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, and Zirau 47, from Manam Island, in Madang, were both charged with 173 counts of manslaughter and for taking an unseaworthy vessel out to sea.

Amen, from Duke of York, NMSA Kimbe manager Michael Livinai from Misima, in Milne Bay, Kabiu from Rabaul and NMSA Madang manager, Carl Kamau from Turubu, in East Sepik, face 173 manslaughter charges.