FERTILIZER BARGE SINKS IN BONTANG

Samarinda, Mar 5 (ANTARA) - A fertilizer barge sank in Lok Tuan port, Bontang, East Kalimantan.

The barge, TK.X.TRAIL Saranan, went down on Tuesday, March 2, 2010, at 4 am local time.

Before sinking, the barge owned by PT. Sinar Sarana Samodra skippered by Fadliani, was moored at Lok Tuan port Monday night at 10.30 pm awaiting the captain and sailing permit.

At that time the sea was rather low and caused the vessel to list.

The vessel later went down as water has entered it during high tide at 4 am.

Head of Bontang police Adjunct Senior Commissioner Dede Rahayu Thursday confirmed the sinking of the fertilizer barge at Lok Tuan port.

"Before leaving for West Kalimantan, the vessel first called at Lok Tuan pending the issuance of a sailing permit," he said.

Nobody was hurt in the incident, but material damage was estimated to reach Rp5.6 billion.