These vessels are the first type of (glass-bottom) ships built by the best children in the nation, which are equipped with glass at the bottom of the ship, so tourists can enjoy the underwater view.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Directorate General of Sea Transportation of the Transportation Ministry has prepared two glass-bottom boats to boost tourism activities in the Manado-Likupang Super Priority Tourism Destination (DPSP) in North Sulawesi Province.

"These vessels are the first type of (glass-bottom) ships built by the best children in the nation, which are equipped with glass at the bottom of the ship, so tourists can enjoy the underwater view," Director General of Sea Transportation at the ministry Arif Toha noted in a statement on Friday.

His side had constructed four units of glass-bottom tour boats that had been completed in 2022, with two of them having been deployed in Labuan Bajo DPSP, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Province, while the rest were used in Manado-Likupang DPSP.

Currently, the central government is processing to grant the ships to the respective local governments.

Head of the Class III Likupang Port Implementation Unit (UPP) Moh Qowi stated that President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), who is currently on a working visit to North Sulawesi Province, had reviewed and boarded one of the glass-bottom tour boats: Nirmala Bahari 1 Bottom-Glass Ship.

The glass-bottom tour vessel has a length of 23.1 meters (m) and is able to accommodate 44 visitors and seven crew members (ABK).

The president used the vessel while visiting the Bunaken National Park, Manado City, North Sulawesi Province, on Friday.

Qowi stated that the president lauded the condition of the tour boat that is well-maintained and clean.

Furthermore, President Jokowi lauded the work of the Transportation Ministry in developing facilities at Likupang Port to support the Manado-Likupang DPSP that is currently still in the development stage and is planned to be completed later in the 2023.

In addition to visiting the Bunaken National Park, the president was scheduled to review the tourism infrastructure at Ecotourism Village Bunaken and Malalayang Beach, Manado City, North Sulawesi Province.

Development of the Ecotourism Village Bunaken and Malalayang Beach had been conducted by the Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Ministry during the 2020-2022 period.

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Translator: Ahmad Wijaya, Uyu Liman
Editor: Sri Haryati
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