The training ship Esmeralda of the Chilean Navy arrived in England as part of its 68th instructional voyage

Por

6 July, 2024

On Monday morning, the training ship Esmeralda of the Chilean Navy arrived in Portsmouth, a port city and naval base on the south coast of England. According to a statement from the Chilean military institution, the crew was welcomed by Chile’s ambassador in the United Kingdom, Ximena Fuentes, and the UK’s ambassador in Chile, Louise De Sousa. The ceremony also saw the presence of the Second Sea Lord of the Royal Navy, Vice Admiral Martin Connell, the Commander of the Portsmouth Naval Base, Commander John Voyce, the Deputy Head of Mission of Chile in the UK, Francisco Bartolucci, and the Naval Attaché of Chile in the UK, Captain Rodrigo Daneck, among others.

Known as the White Lady, the training ship arrived in England from the walled city of Brest in France as part of its 68th instructional voyage. After its stop in Portsmouth, it will head to Lisbon, Portugal.

The Chilean vessel will remain in England until Friday, July 5th, during which time South American Midshipmen and Sailors will participate in various instructional activities with their counterparts from the Royal Navy, including a schedule of sports and cultural events. It should be noted that the crew, under the command of Captain Fernando Méndez, consists of 283 personnel, including 94 Midshipmen and 34 Sailors. Additionally, there are four officers from other branches of the Armed Forces, Order, and Public Security.

Setting sail from the Molo de Abrigo in Valparaíso on April 13th, the training ship embarked on a six-month journey that will include visits to 12 ports and nine countries, according to the Chilean Navy. Acquired from Spain in 1952, the ship was named in honor of the frigate captured in El Callao by Admiral Lord Thomas Alexander Cochrane on the night of November 5-6, 1820.

It has a sail area of 2,852 square meters and 29 sails classified into 6 jibs, 4 blocks, 5 stays, 3 crabsails, 3 spankers, and 8 trysails. The mast height reaches 48.5 meters. Throughout its service in the Chilean Navy, the ship has undergone several refurbishments, including three engine replacements.