The Jakarta Post, September 01, 2002
U.S. to build naval docking facility in Bitung
JAKARTA (JP): Mayor of Bitung Milton Kansil and a U.S. consultant, Vincent A
Lacelly, signed an agreement in Bitung, North Sulawesi, on Saturday for the
construction of a dockyard for warships in the town.
The project is expected to cost Rp 3 trillion and to become operational in 2005. The
signing of the agreement was witnessed by the U.S. Naval Attache in Indonesia, Rick
Marthines. The construction of the dockyard would involve 2,500 local and 250 U.S.
workers.
Project consultant Vincent A Lacelly as quoted by Antara said Bitung had been
chosen for the project because it was strategically located while its geography was
suitable for docking ships.
He said the U.S. government as well as Congress had given their approval for the
project. Originally, the facility was to be built in Guam but it was eventually decided to
do it in Bitung.
The project was to start in 1992 but due to obstacles following the closure of a U.S.
base in the Philippines, it was delayed.
He said the U.S. had been looking for a suitable place to uild the docking facility for
the past 10 years. The dockyard will be a repair center for U.S., European, Japanese,
Indonesian, Australian warships as well as commercial ships, he added.
Mayor Kansil expressed the hope that the existence of the docking facility in Bitung
would have a favorable multiplier effect on the local people's economy.
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