Govt to hold maritime activities

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.