Starting June 17, the Peruvian Navy training ship
BAP Union will embark on an ambitious journey that will take 255 crew members, including staff and cadets, around the globe for 10 months.
BAP Union, the largest and fastest sailing ship in Latin America, will emulate, 167 years later, the audacious voyage that a Peruvian frigate made in 1856, which showed the crew's expertise at that time.
The ship owes its name to the Union corvette, commanded by Miguel Grau, and took part in the first stage of the War of the Pacific in the late 19th century.
The ship's commander, Captain Jose Arce Corzo told Andina news agency that the vessel is a source of pride for all Peruvians as it has been entirely built at the shipyard of the Navy Industrial Services (SIMA) department, thus showing the institution's high technology and specialized work.
How long will the voyage last?
The ship will set sail next Saturday, June 17, and will travel the seas of five continents for 10 months and a half. Its return to Peru is set for April 22, 2024.
The training ship will visit 20 ports in 16 countries, where the Peruvian culture and Peru Brand will be promoted.
The training ship's crew will be made up of 255 sailors, including cadets, officers, and the medical staff, who are responsible for keeping the ship in perfect condition during the 312 days of the journey.
Sailing around the world
The first stop will be the island of Tahiti, in French Polynesia, on July 13, 2023. Then, on August 16, Bap Union will be arriving in Guam, an island located in the Western Pacific (United States).
Afterwards, the vessel will visit Tokyo (Japan) on August 30, the Port of Busan (South Korea) on September 10, Singapore on October 9, and Bombay (India) on November 1.
Another stop, on November 27, will be the Suez Canal, which connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea. Three days later, it will arrive in Alexandria (Egypt).
Later, on December 12, the vessel will arrive at the Port of Civitavecchia (Italy), and on December 19, it will dock at La Spezia, in the same country. On December 30, the crew will arrive in Pierus, Greece.
In 2024, BAP Union will visit Toulon, France (January 12); Malaga, Spain (January 21); Tanger Med Port, Morocco (January 26); Cadiz, Spain (January 31); Baltimore (March 2) and Miami (March 13), United States; and Kingston, Jamaica (March 25).
Finally, the ship is slated to visit Curaçao, the Netherlands (April 3); the Panama Canal (April 11) and Balboa (April 13), Panama; and to drop anchor at the Port of Callao on April 22, which would be the end of its journey.
Publicado: 25/5/2023