Australian faces 162 manslaughter charges in Papua New Guinea

Rabaul Queen

An Australian expat is facing as many as 162 charges of manslaughter following an investigation into last year’s sinking of the Papua New Guinea ferry Rabaul Queen.

Peter Sharp, who owned the ferry when it sank in rough weather off Lae in February 2012, was arrested today in Rabaul, in PNG‘s East New Britain province.

PNG radio station Legend FM quoted police as saying Mr Sharp was charged with 162 counts of manslaughter and one count of operating an unseaworthy vessel.

He was also being charged with negligence.

Police this afternoon would only confirm Mr Sharp was being interviewed.

“He is facing charges,” assistant commissioner Anton Billie said.

“The men are interviewing him now.”

The exact death toll from the disaster is unknown because Mr Sharp’s company, Rabaul Shipping, did not have a complete passenger manifest.

There were as many as 350 people aboard the ferry when it sank.

An official inquiry found the ferry was unsafe, overloaded and should not have been at sea.

Mr Sharp is expected to appear in court tomorrow.

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