LARGE VESSELS TO TAKE PART IN SAIL BANDA 2010

Jakarta, May 28 (ANTARA) - A number of large vessels are ready to play supporting roles in the upcoming international marine event of Sail Banda 2010 from July to August, a government official here said.

The vessels are among others the MV Baruna Jaya-III BPPT, MV Baruna Jaya-VII LIPI, KRI Dr Suharso SHS-990, and the United States Navy's hospital ship, USNS Mercy T-AH-19.

"The USNS Mercy will arrive in the northern part of Maluku and sail southward while making stopovers at some of the province's islands ." Indroyono Susilo, secretary to the coordinating minister for people's welfare, said at a workshop on Maritime Science and Technology Sail Banda 2010 here on Thursday.

In addition, naval ships from Australia, Singapore, and Malaysia would also participate in Sail Banda 2010.

He said besides the large ships, around 700 youths from 33 provinces across the country, including students and scouts, would also come to Ambon on board the KRI Banjarmasin and KRI Surabaya to participate in the international marine event.

The youths would set sail on July 24 from Jakarta - Surabaya - Makasar - Ambon.

Meanwhile, Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT) chief for marine surveys Yudi Anantasena said the MV Baruna Jaya-III BPPT would sail to Maluku while the MV Baruna Jaya -IV BPPT would sail to North Sulawesi with the US research ship Okeanos.

"We will meet on July 19 in the framework of the Sangihe Talaud Indonesian Expedition to conduct e a joint research on hydrothermal vents," he said.

The Okeanos would explore the seas north of Sulawesi in June under a 10-year cooperation agreement with the Indonesian government.

Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Fadel Muhammad said recently that the Okeanos would begin its operations in Indonesian waters.

He said the Okeanos would conduct its explorations as a follow-up to a bilateral agreement on cooperation in research, technology and their application in marine resources and fisheries signed on September 18, 2007.

The explorations are expected to result in new finds, the mapping of the seabeds, location of underwater volcanoes and the charting of other things of geological and biological significance.