REFUELING IN SIBOLGA

The Batavia refueled last night in Sibolga, and is now enroute to the Banyaks. Sibolga lived up to its reputation as a "weaping wound on the underbelly of Sumatra". Funds we sent to our "agent" as a down payment for fuel the day before have vanished along with the agent himself. We dock in the dark and begin a frenzied search for fuel.

The situation on the dock gets tense as the local mafia try to muscle in on the deal. Rick calls them animals and asks to meet the Bupati. Order returns and after a long wait the drums of fuel start to arrive. We check every one and reject a lot that have water in the bottom. It is slow and dirty work to refuel this way and Batavia takes a massive 38 tons to top up her tanks.



As at 1300 local time, the ship has weighed anchor in Singkil, awaiting a CARE boat to come and pick up some care buckets and boxes for distribution. More information as it comes in