Miami, .- The school ship of the Spanish Navy Juan Sebastián Elcano arrived on Sunday in Pensacola (northwest Florida), where he will remain until Friday, the day he will sail to Havana to participate in the commemoration of the fifth centenary of the Cuban capital .
Shortly after arriving in Pensacola, a swearing-in ceremony took place on board, in which 25 Spaniards residing in the United States participated.
This is the number 162 visit to the United States of the ship that entered service in 1928 and the ninth to Pensacola, a city founded in 1698 by Spain, said to the ship captain Ignacio Paz, commander of the J.S. Elcano.
The sworn ceremony was attended by the consul general of Spain in Miami, Cándido Creis, and the honorary vice-consul in Pensacola, María Davis, among other authorities.
Comandante Paz highlighted “how well” they have received the ship school in this city of Florida and the rich agenda of the visit, which includes open days for Pensacola inhabitants to know the life and work that is done to them. board, as well as numerous activities on land for midshipmen.
The commander will give a lecture on the deed of the Basque sailor Juan Sebastián Elcano who circumnavigates the Earth for the first time.
The school ship arrived in Pensacola from Veracruz (Mexico), as part of its instruction trip number 91, in which it will travel more than 17,000 nautical miles in six months, with stops in ports of nine countries.
The stopover in Havana will be the seventh of this trip.
The commander highlighted the double mission that Juan Sebastián Elcano carries out with “humility and at the same time pride”: contribute to train the midshipmen and try to be an embassy of Spain for the world. (EFE)
