Artania Cruise Ship To Stop By At Sabang Port

Banda Aceh, Aceh Province, Jan 20 (Antara) - On January 22, 2014, the Bermuda-registered cruise liner, Artania, 44.656 gt, with a capacity of 1.2 thousand tourists, will halt at the Sabang Port and Free Trade Area in the Sabang Island, Aceh Province. "The Artania Cruise will dock at the Sabang Port for six hours, and we have planned various events to entertain the tourists," Sabang`s Head of Cultural and Tourism Department, Zulfi Purnamawati, stated in Sabang, on Monday. The Artania Ship with a length of 230.6 meters, has a 420-member crew. It will be the first ship to dock at the new Sabang Port and Free Trade Area located near the Klah Island, since the old port is too small to accommodate large ships like Artania. Purnamawati noted that the new Sabang Port has a length of 420 meters and its depth reaches 35 meters. "We are hopeful that this new port will be safe for docking Artania-sized ships. On February 6 and 11, 2014, two other cruise ships are also scheduled to visit the Sabang Island," she added. The events planned for the tourists include various cultural performances and a craft market named "Sabang Fair", Purnamawati remarked. "In the Sabang Fair, we have planned to showcase various Aceh`s traditional crafts and cultural performances, including the "Saman" dance. Also, we will organize a tour around the Sabang Island so that the tourists can enjoy its natural beauty," she pointed out. Located 14 miles from Aceh Province`s Capital City Banda Aceh, the Sabang Island is the westernmost area of Indonesia. The Sabang Island, which offers scenic beauty both under and above the sea, is a popular destination for domestic and foreign tourists.