In Wednesday afternoon (August, 19th 2009), USS United States George Washington (CVN-73) becomes the main focus of North Sulawesi, especially the direct witness parade of war ships (sailing pass) with a series of activities “Sail Bunaken”. Boulevard Manado coast area since at 1 pm, would be estimated by more than thousands of people. Not only Manado people, but also the people who come from different regions in North Sulawesi.

At 4.00 pm, all people saw the parade which was shown from the midst Bunaken Island, but more people only focus to the one of ships, they were always looked at the United States USS George Washington, especially when the drift in the Manado. They were usually see that ships just from the television. And for this moment, they could see the ship directly. The ships was shows its sophistication, as to removing some of the fighter underneath.

e people became veThry impressed. So, they take the picture of the ship by using their camera which was they brought, even though the distance about 300 meters photo. The people only see the bravery USS George Washington about 30 minutes, then melt slowly. Parade of war ships from the port of Bitung began at around 9 am, then sailed across the island of Bangka, Pulau Gangga, Talise Island, Mantehage Island, Manado Tua, Bunaken and Manado Bay.

As many as 25 foreign ships of war from 14 countries, 3 tall ships, 42 units yachts and 6 Indonesian warships that participated in the parade with an average speed of 12 knots. War Ship Parade is also colored by the attraction / parade fighter (flying Pass). Roll fighter to be continued throughout the afternoon before.

The parade of war ships and fighter plane a series of summit of the International Fleet Review (IFR). This was the first time of IFR activities in Manado was attended by 33 countries from different continents. Participants from 33 countries IFR of which 14 countries attended with the delegation and the war ships. Among the United States, UK, Japan, Russia, Australia, South Korea, India, Malaysia, Pakistan, China, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, and France. Meanwhile, 19 other countries, only come with the delegation, such as from Brazil, Bangladesh, Canada, Iran, Italy, Nigeria, Peru, and Turkey.

IFR is one of the major events of Sail Bunaken 2009. Visible to attend the Coordinating Indonesia’s Minister of Politics of Law and Security Widodo AS to be the official representative of Indonesia’s President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. And then there is the Indonesia’s Minister of Transportation Jusman Syafii Djamal, Indonesia’s Minister of Marine and Fisheries, Freddy Numberi, Coordinating Minister for People’s Welfare Aburizal Bakrie,TNI (as Indonesia army) Djoko Santoso, and its top three leaders of the sea, land and air, and North Sulawesi Governor SH Sarundajang.

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