CARGO STEAMER "PERMINA 101" WAITS IN DOCK FOR REPAIRS; LINER "SETIABUDHI" MIN DRY-DOCK; SHIPYARD WORKERS; STEAMER PAINTED; MAN WELDING; WORK ON LINER'S PROPELLOR.




Initials GHB/VS/MGT/BB



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Background: INDONESIA HAS RESUMED THE PRACTICE OF SENDING HER SHIPS TO SINGAPORE SHIPYARD FOR MAJOR REPAIRS AND DRY-DOCKING SURVEYS. THE PRACTICE WAS DISCONTINUED DURING THE ARMED CONFRONTATION BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES WHICH ENDED LAST YEAR.

THIS WEEK TWO CARGO STEAMERS AND ONE PASSENGER-CUM-CARGO LINER -- THE "SETIABUDHI" -- WERE IN JURONG SHIPYARD UNDERGOING MAJOR REPAIRS AND RENOVATIONS. ANOTHER LINER WAS EXPECTED WITHIN A FEW DAYS.

THE COST OF REPAIRS AND DRY-DOCKING SURVEYS FOR THE THREE SHIPS MENTIONED WAS SCHEDULED TO APPROACH GBP1,500,000 STERLING. THE TWO CARGO STEAMERS -- "PERMINA I" AND "PERMINA 101" -- SAILED IN FOR MAJOR REPAIRS DURING THE CHRISTMAS PERIOD.

THE JURONG SHIPYARD -- PART OF SINGAPORE'S MASSIVE WATERSIDE DEVELOPMENT AREA --- WAS EXPECTING MORE INDONESIAN SHIPS FOR REPAIR DURING THE YEAR. SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN LAID UP SINCE THE START OF THE CONFRONTATION IN 1963.

ACCORDING TO A SINGAPORE NEWSPAPER, THE INDONESIAN GOVERNMENT WAS SEEKING MAJOR LOAN FROM THE UNITED STATES TO ENABLE HER TO RE-EQUIP, REPAIR AND BUILD MORE SHIPS FOR HER COMMERCIAL FLEET.