Authorities from 11 American nations including, among others, Defense ministers of Peru, Ecuador and Chile, will take part in the launching ceremony for the hull of the Training Ship “Union,” to be hosted by Peruvian President Ollanta Humala.
The event will take place on December 22 at the shipyard of the Navy Industrial Services department (SIMA) in the presence of the Peruvian Defense Minister, Pedro Cateriano, and his counterparts from Ecuador and Chile, Fernando Cordero and Jorge Burgos, respectively.
Attending the ceremony will also be 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.
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.
(END) NDP/ASH/RMB/MVB
Published: 12/19/2014