Indonesia vows action against British firm for damaging reefs

SORONG: Indonesia yesterday vowed to take action after a British-owned cruise ship smashed into pristine coral reefs and caused extensive damage, as residents of the popular tourist site lamented “paradise” had been ruined.

Vice-President Jusuf Kalla demanded that the Caledonian Sky’s operator pay compensation as authorities said a criminal act could have been committed and they might seek the extradition of the ship’s captain.

The accident happened earlier this month when the 4,200tonne ship smashed into the reefs at low tide around Kri, one of hundreds of small islands in Raja Ampat. It became grounded on the reefs and only refloated later on a high tide. Numerous attempts to free it using a tug boat failed, and only caused further damage to the corals. AFP