Sulawesi 'perahu' in Paris

UJUNGPANDANG, South Sulawesi: A traditional wooden boat from South Sulawesi, known as Perahu Sande, will be exhibited at an international show in the Natural History National Museum in Paris next year, Antara reported.

The nine-meter boat, which can sail at a speed of up to 30-40 kilometers an hour, is widely used by local fishermen.

A prototype of the boat would be dispatched by a container bound for Paris later this month, Ilham Aliem Bachri, head of the project, told the news agency.

The "From Island to Island" exhibition in Paris will feature traditional boats from other countries, including Japan and South Korea. The boats will be shown in their miniature forms. A miniature of the Phinisi, a larger wooden boat also originating from South Sulawesi, will be displayed, Ilham said.

A representative from the Paris museum, Salvy Saunhac, is currently in Ujungpandang to oversee the project.

At the end of the exhibition, the Sande will be donated to a maritime museum in France, he said, stressing that this is expected to help tourism in South Sulawesi. (emb)