Indonesian boat builders reach into the past

Floating tradition: Shipbuilders working on a traditional Pinisi (inset) in Tana Beru, Sulawesi island. — AFP

TANA BERU: Under the blazing tropical sun, Indonesia’s traditional ship builders hammer, drill and carve timber from nearby forests into intricate two-mast vessels that have plied the archipelago’s waters for centuries.

Sulawesi island is the heart of the country’s industry creating the iconic schooners, known as Pinisi.