ITALIAN : THE TRAINING SHIP AMERIGO VESPUCCI WILL VISIT

NEW YORK FROM 26th TO 31th JULY

New York is the 8th port of call of the Training Campaign 2017 for the

Training Ship Amerigo Vespucci

Follow the #MarinaMilitare live on Twitter: @ItalianNavy #ProfessionistiDelMare #ilFuturoèilMare

From the 26th to the 31st July 2017, the Italian Navy Training Ship Amerigo Vespucci will be in New York in the United States, the eighth port of call of the Training Campaign 2017.

The Training Campaign on board the Amerigo Vespucci represents a key element in the cadet professional development, passing on the Italian Navy’s core values of love for the sea, ethics, loyalty and honor.

On the 19th of April the ‘most beautiful ship in the world’ set sail from the Italian Naval Base in La Spezia, to start the Training Campaign 2017 and visited so far two ports in (Sines and Funchal), then, after 20 days of navigation across the Atlantic ocean, Hamilton, in the Bermuda islands, and three ports of call in Canada: Halifax, Montreal and Quebec City.

New York is the second port of call in the U.S.A., after Boston.

During a port visit in Montreal (Canada) the 79 on-term volunteers (VFP4) of the 24th Course which had been on board since the unmooring from La Spezia, were replaced by the 125 Italian of (including 18 foreign cadets).

Navy cadets learn the basics of seamanship, they put into practice what has been studied so far in the books by getting familiar with the marine equipment, climbing up the masts, and using the sextant to calculate the position of the ship with the stars. They all have been splendidly promoting the Italian excellence and will go on upholding the prestige of the Italian Navy abroad through cultural and promotional events in collaboration with our diplomatic representations in host countries.

More than 25.000 visitors in the various ports have had the opportunity to appreciate her style, which is one of kind, and her fascinating timeless beauty.

On Wednesday July 26th at 15:00 local time (21:00 in Italy), the Commanding Officer of the Vespucci, Captain Angelo Patruno, will hold a press conference on board to present the ship and the Training Campaign 2017.

After New York, the Amerigo Vespucci will cross the Atlantic Ocean again, proceeding towards Ponta Delgada, in the Azores islands, keeping on representing our country and the ‘made in Italy’ in an unusual port of call for the Italian Navy. Media coverage of the Training Campaign 2017 will be provided by RAI (RAI Italia and Linea Blu), Radio Rtl 102.5, RTV San MARINO, La Stampa, and Il Secolo XIX.

During her stay in New York, the Italian Navy Tall Ship Amerigo Vespucci will be moored at Pier 88 and will be open to the public on the following dates/times:

Tuesday 27 July: 14.30 - 18.30

Friday 28 July: 14.30 -18.30

Saturday 29 July: 14.30 - 16.30

Sunday 30 July: 14.30 - 18.30

Press accreditations:

Vespucci’s Public Information Cell: [email protected] and [email protected]

CLICK HERE AND DOWNLOAD PICTURES AND VIDEOS - Copyright Italian Navy

CLICK HERE AND VISIT THE WEBSITE OF AMERIGO VESPUCCI - CAMPAIGN 2017

Special Reports

The Vespucci and her ‘sister ship’ Christopher Colombo were designed by the Marine Engineer Major Francesco Rotundi, director of the shipyards of Castellammare di Stabia, near in Italy. The ship was launched on February 22nd 1931 since then, she has always performed her core training activity for the cadets. From 2014 to 2016, the Vespucci underwent a major overhaul period, aimed at restoring operational effectiveness and upgrading accommodation areas and facilities.

More efficient and eco-friendly electric power and propulsion systems were installed, reflecting the Italian Navy’s commitment to environmental sustainability.

For the Vespucci’s ’rejuvenation’ and ‘restyling’, the shipyard workers cooperated in full synergy with the ship’s crew, under the coordination of the La Spezia Naval Shipyard technical direction notably its Shipyard studies Department.

Since her entry into service, the ship has carried out training activities every year (except for the year 1940, due to war events, and the years 1964, 1973, 1997 and 2014 to 2016 when she underwent major overhaul periods), providing training to the Naval Academy cadets, but also to on- term volunteers and students of the ’Francesco Morosini’ Naval School. The Amerigo Vespucci is a sailing vessel equipped with an auxiliary power plant, a full-rigged ship with three masts (fore, main and mizzen), all three equipped with yards and square sails; the bowsprit functions as a fourth mast.

The crew consists of approximately 270 personnel, both men and women. This year, a number of on-term volunteers (VFP4) have been embarked for the first part of the Campaign to be replaced during the stopover in Montreal, Canada by the Naval Academy cadets, who will start their summer training campaign. The crew will then total approximately 400 personnel on board.

The Amerigo Vespucci has been a UNICEF goodwill ambassador since September 2007.

TRAINING TALL SHIP “AMERIGO VESPUCCI”

TECHNICAL FEATURES

Designer: Lt.Cdr. Francesco ROTUNDI

Projected/Laid 12 May 1930 down:

Launch: 22 February 1931

Delivery to the 26 May 1931 IT Navy:

Home Port: La Spezia (ITALY)

Commanding Navy Captain Angelo PATRUNO Officer

MMSI

247999000 Number

- EDUCATION & TRAINING (Cadets of the Italian Naval Academy, Sailor Cadets, Military “Francesco Morosini” in , Sail Training The Mission: Association-I, Lega Navale Italiana, etc.)

- NAVAL DIPLOMACY

- DUAL-USE, inter Agencies and in cooperation with NGOs (e.g. UNICEF, WWF, MareVivo, etc.)

Displacement (gross 4.000 Tons registered tonnage):

82 mt (Hull) - 101 mt (LOA - Length: Overall)

Width: 15,5 mt

Draft: 7,3 mt

2.650 square mt - 24 sails, square- sails, Staysails, Jibs plus one gaff- The Sails: sail; the sails are made of hemp, “olona” canvas.

Mizzen Mast (43 mt) – Main-Mast The Masts: (54 mt) – Fore-Mast (50 mt) – Bowsprit (18 mt)

Total length of ropes: about 36 Cables, Ropes Km. and Blocks: Blocks, Tackles: 900 wooden made and 120 iron made.

Three main decks type, the main- deck or weather-deck, the battery- deck and the passageway-deck, running from bow to stern with The Hull: quarter-deck and poop-deck. The typical white bands over the black hull are a reminder of the two cannon decks of the classical 19th century vessel.

Teak: main-deck and the stern- bridge; Mahogany, Teak and Holy- Wood: for nautical fittings; Ash Variety of wood: gratings; Oak: Officers’ Wood: Mess and Officers’ cabins; Mahogany and Walnut: Conference Room. 11 in total: 2 speed-boats, 2 motor- boats, 2 rescue-boats, 4 ship’s boats (oar and sail driven) used for Boats: the cadets’ training, and the typical “whale boat” with oars, on the stern of the ship, reserved to the Commanding Officer.

Integrated Diesel-Elettrical:

- 2 x Diesel Generators MTU 12VM33F - 1320 KW;

Engine: - 2 x Diesel Generators MTU 8VM23F - 760 KW;

1 Electrical Propulsion Engine (MEP) NIDEC ASI (ex Ansaldo) CR1000Y8 (2 x 750 KW).

Primary Distribution: 380V / 50hz

Electrical Secondary system: Distribution: 220V / 50hz e 115V / 60 hz

Interior/Exterior Lights: LED

Max. 11 Knots, engine-driven – Speed: Max. 15 Knots, under sails

264 of crew members (15 Officers, 64 Petty Officers, 185 Seamen) + Crew: about 80 sailor cadets and over 100 officer cadets of the Italian Naval Academy with their staff.