The unit arrived at the Port City as part of the navigation route of its 17th Training Cruise.
At approximately 8:00 a.m. on Friday, April 4, the Spanish Navy’s training ship Juan Sebastián de Elcano docked at the Molo de Abrigo in Valparaíso , as part of its 17th Training Cruise.
The unit was welcomed by the Chief of Staff of the First Naval Zone, Captain Fernando Méndez, along with officers from the Chilean Navy; the Honorary Consul of Spain, Claudio Gorichon; the Spanish Naval Attaché, Captain Juan Luis Benavides; members of Bomba España, who performed a water game; and the First Naval Zone Instrumental Band, which welcomed the guests with its chords.
Under the command of Captain Luis Carreras-Presas, the ship has a crew of 20 officers, 76 midshipmen, 20 warrant officers, and 130 sailors. Valparaíso is the second Chilean port of call for the ship, before continuing its itinerary to Peru, Panama, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, the United States, and Spain.
One of the most notable milestones of this visit is the symbolic meeting between the Juan Sebastián de Elcano and its sister ship, the Esmeralda of the Chilean Navy. Both vessels, built in the shipyards of Cádiz, share a common origin, a similar design, and a training vocation, becoming benchmarks among the world’s great training ships.
Commander Carreras-Presas highlighted, “We’ve been here for 83 days since we left Cádiz, approximately 64 of which have been at sea, and that’s the most intense part. We know the affection that tall ships inspire in maritime cities around the world, and particularly in Valparaíso, the base of Juan Sebastián de Elcano ‘s sister ship , the Esmeralda , which we have right now at our bow. What a beautiful sight to see the two tall ships docked together here in Valparaíso. Therefore, we will be holding open days, coordinated with the Chilean Navy.”
Upon arrival, Commander Carreras-Presas extended his formal greetings to regional authorities and to the Commander-in-Chief of the First Naval Zone, Rear Admiral César Delgado.
Regarding the visit, Rear Admiral Delgado said, “Today we welcomed the Spanish ship Juan Sebastián de Elcano to our port of Valparaíso. We are very pleased to welcome the Commander and his crew to our Molo de Abrigo, where, by a special coincidence, he will be able to stay alongside his sister ship, our Esmeralda , for 24 hours. This will allow us to capture unique images of these two ships, built in the 1930s and 1950s, which are true brothers.”
The ship will remain in port until Tuesday, April 8. During its stay, its decks will be open to the general public on Saturday, April 5, from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., and on Sunday, April 6, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
The crew will also make official visits to the National Maritime Museum and the Naval School, where they will present a bust of the Spanish hero Blas de Lezo.