Indonesia held on Wednesday a stunning tall ship and war ship parade in North Sulawesi capital city of Manado as part of the world's largest marine event entitled "2009 Sail Bunaken".
Hundreds of yachts, tall ships and 33 warships took part in the parade that was witnessed by navy chiefs of the parade's participating countries and spectators.
Countries that sent their warships to take part in the parade include China, France, British, Pakistan, India, Thailand, Malaysia and some South American countries.
All crews of those ships stood alongside the edge of the ships and hailed the spectators and distinguished guests who sat in VIP row with a shout "Indonesia Merdeka" (Independent Indonesia) to celebrate the 64th Indonesian independence day that fell on August 17.
The presence of the United States' nuclear super carrier U.S.S. George Washington has drew the spectators' attention. With tens of fighter jets parked on its deck, the super carrier ship showed the U.S. military might.
"Indonesia expects a togetherness from countries taking part in the event to take care of our marine for the mankind," the minister who representing Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on the sidelines of the navy parade.
The 2009 Sail Bunaken event is scheduled to end on August 20.
(Xinhua News Agency August 19, 2009)
