TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Bahamas Maritime Authority is ready to help Indonesia investigates the incident in Raja Ampat in West Papua, which has caused the coral reefs in the waters heavily damaged after being struck by a cruise ship, the MV Caledonian Sky.
Bahama's representative for the United Nation, Ambassador Elliston Rahming, regretted the tragedy. Rahming said the Bahamas Maritime Authority in London is ready to help with the investigation.
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Rahming expressed their commitment when meeting with Arif Havas Oegroseno, the Coordinating Ministry of Maritime Affairs' deputy for marine coordination. The two met in New York in March, during a preparation for the establishment of international norms related to biodiversity in areas beyond 200 nautical miles (BBNJ).
On Saturday, March 4, the Caledonian Sky hit the Raja Ampat coral reefs at low tide. The ship ran on the coral on its way to Bitung, North Sulawesi, after a bird-watching tour.
The Bahaman ship was captained by Keith Michael Taylor. It had on board 102 tourists and 79 crew members.
The incident is estimated to have caused irreparable damage of 18,882 square meters to one of the world's best coral reefs and damage its ecosystem. A total size of 13,270 square meters is fully damaged while 5,612 square meters were damaged as a result of sand blows and broken coral.
At least eight genera of corals were destroyed. Hundreds of fish that normally surrounds the site are now nowhere to be seen. The regeneration of these coral reefs is estimated to take at least 10 years.
ANTARA