1.
SV & CU Cargo ship and nameplate
0.11

2.
SV President Mobutu out of car
0.15

3.
CU Guard of honour
0.16

4.
SV President listens to national anthem (2 shots)
0.23

5.
SV President walks past crowds of children (2 shots)
0.29

6.
SV President receives bouquet
0.34

7.
CU Children applaud as Mobutu passes (3 shots)
0.44

8.
GV Cargo ship
0.47

9.
SV Mobutu walks towards rostrum
0.50

10.
GV Crowd
0.53

11.
SV & CU Diomi speaks and Mobutu listens (3 shots)
1.04

12.
SV Crowd
1.07

13.
LV & SV Minister of Transport speaks and President listens (3 shots)
1.17

14.
SV Minister makes presentation to Mobutu
1.25

15.
SV Official applauding
1.28

16.
SV & BV Bishop blesses ship (2 shots)
1.38

17.
SV Mobutu waves to crowd (2 shots)
1.44

18.
GV Crowd watching VIPs boarding vessel
1.47

19.
SV Mobutu chatting on deck
1.50

20.
GV Superstructure
1.55

21.
SV & GTV Mobutu on vessel and GV Ships (3 shots)
2.11



Initials BB/1304 WLW/PW/BB/1432



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: The Congo Democratic Republic has expanded its fleet of sea-going ships to four, with the inauguration last week of the M/V 'Kasavubu', named after the country's first President. The ceremony was performed at Matadi by President Joseph Mobutu, and the ship was blessed by the port's bishop.

SYNOPSIS: The Congo Democratic Republic has expanded its fleet of sea-going ships to four, with the addition of the Motor Vessel 'Kasavubu'. The ship, named after the country's fist President, was inaugurated at Matadi last week by President Joseph Mobutu.

The vessel is 157 metres long and 22 metres wide, weighing 12,000 tons with draught of 9.45 metres. It is crewed by 30 seamen, does 21 knots, and will carry cargo between the Congo, Japan and Hong Kong. Among speakers at its inauguration were Mr. Gaston Diomi, President of the Congolese Maritime Company, and the country's Minister of Transport, Monsieur Gaston Kisanga.

The ship was blessed by Port Matadi's Bishop, Monseigneur Nzita. The man after whom it is named, Joseph Kasavubu, was Congo-Kinshasa's first President. He was appointed on independence in June 1960, and with the exception of a short period during which the country was under military rule, was President until November 1965. But then President Mobutu, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces at the time, stepped in to power. Joseph Kasavubu declared his full support for the military rule and retired to his farm at Boma, 300 miles (483 kilometres) south-west of Kinshasa. He died there in March 1969.