After six months at sea and with 80 crew members on board, the training ship “ROU 20 Capitán Miranda” arrived at the port of Montevideo. They were received by the President of the Republic, Yamandú Orsi, the Minister of National Defense, Sandra Lazo, and the crew’s families.
The training ship “Capitán Miranda” returned from its thirty-fifth training voyage with 80 crew members, including guests from the National Army, Uruguayan Air Force, National Police, and the University of the Republic, under the command of Captain Andrés Debali, commander of the training ship.
The commander of the ROU 20 training sailboat “Captain Miranda”, C/N (CG) Andrés DebaIi reported that in the six months of the mission the ship sailed more than 17 thousand nautical miles, visited 21 ports and 11 countries, among which are Brazil, Spain, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, France, the Netherlands and Norway.
“This is one of the most important events of the year for the Navy, as it epitomizes the enormous effort of its crew and the institution,” stated the Commander of the Navy, Rear Admiral José Luis Elizondo, in the service order.
The training ship is essential for complementing the professional training of officers graduating from the Naval Academy. It is one of the Navy’s main instruments in the exercise of its diplomatic role, displaying our flag in the ports and seas of other nations, disseminating our culture, traditions, and national products.
In fulfilling its military role, this trip allowed the institution to provide a fundamental opportunity for the training, instruction, and preparation of naval personnel in accordance with the primary mission of the National Navy.
Aboard the training ship, the midshipmen consolidated their acquired theoretical knowledge, developed essential seamanship skills, and faced challenges that strengthened their leadership and decision-making abilities, essential elements for developing their military skills and carrying out actions that require the defense of the nation.
In its diplomatic role, the training ship acts as a roving ambassador of the Republic, creating links between the National Navy and its counterparts in friendly countries, disseminating our customs and culture, and representing the sovereignty of the Uruguayan State beyond our physical borders.
The welcoming ceremony was attended by the Minister of Tourism, Pablo Menoni; the Undersecretary of Defense, Joel Rodríguez; directors of the Ministry of Defense; the Director General of Naval Material, Rear Admiral José Ruiz; national authorities, military personnel, diplomats, and family members of the ship’s crew.