Peru’s President, Ollanta Humala, and First Lady, Nadine Heredia, participated in the launching ceremony for the hull of the Training ship “Union”.
This sailing vessel is the largest of its kind in Latin America, and will serve as an on-board training facility for cadets.
"Union" will also become a platform for scientific research, emergency relief in case of natural disasters, and humanitarian aid.
In addition, it will serve as a travelling Embassy of Peru.
Total installed power of this modern watercraft, whose construction began last year, is 1,825kW. It can travel at a speed of 12 knots and can accommodate 250 crew members.
The ship has an auditorium, a library, a computer platform and classrooms, where officer trainees will learn about celestial navigation, meteorology, oceanography, hydrography, as well as naval operations and maneuvers.
The event took place at the shipyard of the Navy Industrial Services department (SIMA).
Attending the ceremony are Defense minister, Pedro Cateriano; the Navy General Commander, Admiral Carlos Tejada; the deputy Defense ministers, Secretaries of Defense and commanding Generals of the Armed Forces of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Mexico, Uruguay and Venezuela.
(END) SMA/CCR/MVB