Govt to hold maritime activities

AMBON, Maluku: The Indonesian government is to hold a series of maritime activities, topped by a maritime expo in Bitung district, North Sulawesi, as part of celebrations to commorate the United Nations' International Maritime Year.

A national ad-hoc committee has decided that the expo will be held on Sept. 24, according to the head of administration at the National Institute of Sciences' (LIPI) oceanology research and development center, Ambon Heryanto.

He said activities, under the theme of "The Sea -- Challenges, Chances and Expectations", will be jointly carried out by the Navy, the Agency for Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT), and LIPI.

Antara reported that activities will include a national maritime seminar in Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi, a national seminar on marine biotechnology and an international workshop on the Western Pacific in Manado, North Sulawesi, and a national science and technology jamboree in Bitung.

In addition, expeditions will be carried out by the research vessels Baruna Jaya IV, VII and VIII and fish stocks will be assessed in the Banda Sea.