Kochi: A Japanese "peace boat", carrying the message of peace and Human Rights and with 550 persons on board, arrived at Kochi on September 16, its only port of call in India.

The vessel, embarked on its journey from Tokyo on September 1. It arrived in Kochi after touching Manila in Philipines, and Singapore, Kise Tak Yobhi, cruise director, told reporters at a press conference on board the ship, 'M V Olvia'.

The peace boat is a Japan-based non-governmental organisation (NGO) founded to establish a global network to support initiatives in the fields of peace, Human Rights and sustainable development. During the last 19 years it had carried more than 15,000 persons on 36 voyages to 90 ports in over 50 countries, he said.

It proposes to touch Eritrea, Egypt, Turkey, France, Spain, Cuba, Colombia, Peru, Chile, Tahiti, New Zealand, Australia and Papua New Guinea in 100 days by December 2002, Yobhi said.

A group of media personnel from India, Pakistan, Jerusalem, Bosnia and Israel are also travelling in the vessel.

PTI