Pacific / Papua New Guinea

PNG boat owner Sharp arrested again

15:28 pm on 1 March 2016

The owner of the ill-fated MV Rabaul Queen Peter Sharp has again been arrested in Papua New Guinea.

The Rabaul Queen Photo: Supplied

His arrest comes after a two-week investigation led by Chief Sergeant Robert Wane following last December's grounding of Sharp's other passenger vessel, the MV Kimbe Queen.

Mr Sharp and the MV Kimbe Queen captain Eugene Kutao from Bougainville were arrested and charged Monday in Kokopo in East New Britain Province.

According to Chief Sgt Wane, Mr Sharp was arrested and charged with sending an unseaworthy vessel out to sea while his captain was charged with taking an unseaworthy vessel out to sea.

Both were refused bail.

Mr Sharp and the others who were charged over the sinking of the MV Rabaul Queen in 2012 will stand trial in the Kokopo National Court in April.