The 8.2 million euro (9.8 million dollar) rehabilitation of the port, scheduled to take less than six months, will involve repairing the damaged main pier and extending it by 20 metres (66 feet) as well as reconstructing port buildings.

"This port is important not just for (channeling) tsunami assistance, but also for the economic recovery of the whole province," Schultz said at the ground-breaking ceremony at Banda Aceh's Malahayati port.

The reconstruction is being carried out by a Dutch company.

"This harbour is very strategic and important because among harbours destroyed in the tsunami, this is the only one that can still be used," said Kuntoro Mangkusubroto, who heads the agency overseeing reconstruction.

Mangkusubroto said that Malahayati was also strategic because it acted as the main sea hub for economic activities across Aceh.

He also called on the Dutch to "send in a team" to help develop a strategy for an integrated network of ports in Aceh.

Reconstruction in Aceh has been relying extensively on transport by boat and air as coastal road networks were largely wiped out by last December's tsunami.

Aceh suffered the bulk of damage from the earthquake-triggered tsunami that wreaked havoc around the rim of the Indian Ocean.

Most of its coastline was devastated by the waves and at least 165,000 people were killed or remain missing in Aceh alone.

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