70 years have passed since the
Amerigo Vespucci Training Ship
, the oldest unit in service of the Italian Military Navy, was in the port of Buenos Aires.
After a long wait on Argentine lands, the ship returns this Sunday with multiple activities for the public.
The ship is 93 years old and
its only visit to the country
was when it made its first raid within the framework of the
1952 training campaign
.
“Non chi comincia ma quel che persevera” (Not who begins but who perseveres), says the motto that has been in place since 1978, since it was originally “For the Country and for the King.”
Later, in World War II, it changed to "Strong in the fury of winds and events", and finally remained with the current one.
Its value for Italians is
similar to that of the Frigate Libertad
for our country.
The ship was built at the Regio Cantiere Navale in Castellammare di Stabia (Naples) and
she was released to sea on February 22, 1931
.
Its name is in honor of the famous navigator who explored the “New World”, America.
In the 1920s, the Defense Staff considered it necessary to renew the units intended for the training of Naval Academy cadets.
Although the development of the new fleet was oriented towards increasingly advanced technology,
it was decided to provide training on board a sailboat
: challenging, but at the same time enriching due to being more exposed to the conditions of the sea and the wind.
By 1929, Admiral Giuseppe Siriani, who was Minister of the Navy, made the decision to build two new training ships.
The design was commissioned by the lieutenant colonel of the Genio Navale corps, Francesco Rotundi.
His inspiration was
the ships of the late 18th and early 19th centuries
of the Royal Navy of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.
As a result of this project, two ships emerged, the Amerigo Vespucci and its twin, the Cristoforo Colombo, which has some differences:
it is smaller and three years older
.
The training ship, docked during its visit to Uruguay.
Xinhua Photo
Since its entry into service, the ship has carried out every year (with the exception of 1940 due to war events, and 1964, 1973 and 1997 due to extraordinary work) training activities for students of the "Francesco Morosini" Naval Military School and students of helmsmen belonging to sailing associations such as the Italian Naval League and the Sailing Training Association.
Regarding the educational aspect, on board young people are taught
the basic rules of life at sea
, as well as the most specific skills in the different sectors: nautical, ship conduct, engine operation and auxiliary systems, ship management. logistical, administrative and health problems.
To this end, in addition to the practical activity, conferences and classes are organized by the most experienced crew members.
The learning level
is determined at the end of the campaign
through written and oral tests.
The ship in Uruguay.
This Sunday he arrives in Argentina.
Xinhua Photo
Between 1931 and 2023, the Amerigo Vespucci carried out a total of 87 training campaigns for cadets of the first class of the Naval Academy, of which 44 were in northern Europe, 20 in the Mediterranean, 7 in the Black Sea, 4 in the eastern Atlantic, 8 in North America, 2 in South America and a circumnavigation of the globe that was completed between May 2002 and September 2003.
On July 1, 2023, after almost 20 years, the Amerigo Vespucci
embarked on its second trip around the world
, which will take it to disembark in more than 30 ports in 28 countries and touch all five continents.
And, on that journey, today she will moor in the port of Buenos Aires.
The Vespucci Ship will be visiting Buenos Aires until March 21.
The arrival of the ship will also be an excuse for different initiatives with which the Italian Embassy in the country will make Italian culture and attractions known to the world.
The Buenos Aires stage, which has a unique symbolic value, begins the
second phase of the Vespucci World Tour
, which began on July 1, 2023 in the port of Genoa and will end in February 2025.