Bahari Museum rearranged

JAKARTA (JP): The marine collections at the Bahari Museum in downtown Kota, West Jakarta, were officially opened in a new display format yesterday by R.S. Museno, the deputy governor in charge of social welfare.

The marine collections have been arranged chronologically and grouped according to fisherman community, fish-catching technology, boat-making technology, marine wildlife, Jakarta as a harbor during the period between 1600 and 1800, the voyage of steam ships and the Indonesian Navy.

Dhermawan Ilyas, the museum's head, said that the new arrangement should make the collections more interesting and informative.

The museum management has been working with the Amsterdam Historical Museum in the Netherlands as well as students from the University of Indonesia's Archeology Department and Trisakti University's Graphics Design Department since last January.

Dhermawan said the 850 collections displayed at the museum include original boats, boat models, modern ship miniatures, navigation equipment, traditional fish-catching equipment, Portuguese and Dutch cannons from 16th through 18th centuries, Indonesian naval equipment as well as pictures of the country's sea-related activities.

In addition, there is an early 20th century model of the Tanjung Priok harbor. The model was a gift from the Amsterdam Historical Museum handed over during yesterday's opening ceremony.

The museum was once used by Dutch colonial rulers as a site to store spices.

The building, which was constructed in 1718, was dedicated as the Bahari Museum in 1977.(32)