FOREIGN WARSHIPS CONFIRM PARTICIPATION IN SAIL TOMINI by Fardah

    Jakarta, June 19, 2015 (Antara)- Central Sulawesi, as the host of Sail Tomini, the seventh edition of the annual international maritime event Sail Indonesia, is gearing up to welcome domestic and foreign warships that will participate in a sailing pass.

       Some 20 foreign warships have been invited to join the sailing pass, or a parade of warships, organized to highlight Sail Tomini 2015 at Pangi Beach, Parigi Moutong District, Central Sulawesi, on September 19, 2015.

      President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) is expected to attend the peak maritime event.    
  Prior to the Sail Tomini peak event, the government will organize Boalemo Festival in Tilamuta city, Gorontalo Province, which is expected to be attended by Vice President Jusuf M. Kalla, on September 10, 2015.

         The agenda of Sail Tomini encompasses 24 activities such as a yacht rally, a maritime research expedition, a sailing pass, exhibitions, and scientific seminars. The event is expected to be attended by 10 thousand guests.
   Some 100 foreign yachters from various countries are expected to participate in Sail Tomini 2015.

        "We have invited 20 countries to send their warships. Eight of them have given a positive response, and six have sent their confirmation to participate in the event," Commander of the Eastern Indonesian Naval Fleet Battle Group Rear Admiral Dewanto stated in Palu, the capital of Central Sulawesi Province, recently.

         He informed that Singapore and Malaysia might send two warships each.

         The Indonesian Navy will deploy 27 warships for the event, including for providing security to President Jokowi, some ministers, and foreign ambassadors expected to attend the event.

          The Navy hopes that the sailing pass will have the participation of 27 Indonesian warships, 20 foreign warships, 20 ships from domestic institutions, and fishing ships measuring at least 10 meters in length.

          Activities during the sailing pass will include a parachuting display that will involve military personnel from the Indonesian Air Force, Army, and Navy.

        Besides this, the Indonesian Navy will also deploy a hospital warship KRI Doctor Soeharso to offer free medical services covering a route of 7,880 kilometers in six regions in Sulawesi.

        To be called "Operation Surya Bhaskara Jaya", KRI Doctor Soeharso is expected to serve some 10 thousand patients living in coastal areas and remote isles along the route.

        The hospital ship will leave Jakarta on August 28, 2015, for Sulawesi Islands that will include Tolitoli, Marore (North Sulawesi), Gorontalo, Parigi, Togean Islands, Banggai, and Makassar in South Sulawesi.

        The international maritime event of Sail Tomini and Boalemo Festival 2015 were jointly launched by nine ministers, two governors, and two district heads at the Epicentrum Hotel in Jakarta, on May 5, 2015.

        The annual event is themed "The Pearl of Equator for Future Life," and its logo depicts a Phinisi traditional sailing boat of Sulawesi.

        The logo and theme are in accordance with the vision of President Jokowi to develop Indonesia, the world's largest archipelagic nation, as a global maritime axis.

        Coordinating Minister for Human and Cultural Development Puan Maharani has reminded the organizing committee of Sail Tomini 2015 to not simply organize the festival as a mere ceremony.

        The event should provide long-term benefits to the local community and not just during the festival, the chief minister was quoted as saying by her deputy, Haswan Yunas, during a coordinating meeting on Sail Tomini and Boalemo Festival 2015 at the office of the Central Sulawesi Governor's office recently.

        The long-term benefits will include the development of infrastructure, such as new roads, hotels, seaport, and airports that are being built to support the festival.

        The regions will also enjoy improved electricity supply and telecommunication facilities during and after the Sail festival.

        She further ordered training courses for Batik makers in Tomini and the local batik to be promoted during the international maritime event.   
    The meeting, chaired by Dedi Sutisna, the secretary to the Indonesian Maritime Council (Dekin), was attended by some 400 members of the organizing committee. Puan Maharani was not present at the meeting.

        Deputy Governor of Gorontalo Idris Rahim urged the transportation ministry to increase flights to Gorontalo ahead of the implementation of Sail Tomini and Boalemo Festival.

         "There should be additional flights to Gorontalo, at least from September 8 to 12, 2015. I hope our request will be met by the transportation ministry, so that more guests will come to Gorontalo," he noted.

        Currently, only five flights per day operate to and from Gorontalo by Garuda Indonesia (1x), Lion Air (2x), Sriwijaya (1x), and Batik Air (1x) serving Gorontalo-Makassar-Jakarta routes, according to Rahim.

         A helipad is currently being constructed in Gorontalo to support the international maritime event.

        Gorontalo is also preparing to welcome foreign warships that might sail along its waters during the Sail Tomini and Boalemo Festival.

        Sail Tomini is the seventh Sail Indonesia event, after Sail Bunaken held in North Sulawesi in 2009, Sail Banda in Maluku in 2010, Sail Wakatobi-Belitung in Southeast Sulawesi and Bangka Balitung in 2011, Sail Morotai in North Maluku in 2012, Sail Komodo in East Nusa Tenggara in 2013, and Sail Raja Ampat in West Papua in 2014.

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 19-06-2015 14:51:17