Amerigo Vespucci, the oldest naval vessel of the Italian Navy, 92 years old but no wrinkles, almost a century of undisputed beauty, sailed out for the World tour, combining the traditional training activity of officer cadets and the promotion of ‘Made in Italy’ excellence in the countries and ports covered by the campaign.
The event was attended by the Italian Minister of Defence Guido Crosetto, together with other seven among other Italian Government Ministers and Undersecretaries, welcomed by the Chief of Italian Navy Admiral (OF-9) Enrico Credendino, the Liguria’s Region President Giovanni Toti and the Major of Genoa Marco Bucci, who greeted the Vespucci’s crew and cadets of the Naval Academy.
“It is an extraordinary day for Genoa and for the Navy but above all for Italy. This ship will set sail waving the Italian flag which will carry around the world all that Italy represents. Not only will the most beautiful ship in the world arrive in every nation, but Italy will arrive.”
Guido Crosetto, Italian Minister of Defence
The Vespucci’s leaving from Genoa port was accompanied by a parade of boats including the Ocean Race participants, sided by Vulcano Logistic Support Ship, Italian Coast Guard, Guardia di Finanza and Carabinieri vessels. The event was sealed by different flyovers of the Italian Air Force’s national acrobatic team Frecce Tricolori and the overflight of an Italian Navy’s aviation formation with displays of the F-35B Lightning IIs and AV-8B+ Harrier IIs.
In keeping with the tradition of the ancient seafaring art and the innovation of its systems oriented towards environmental protection, the Vespucci will bring to the world the values of national history and culture as well as Italian manufacturing excellence, in support of the importance of the maritime theme for the Global development.
Already UNESCO and UNICEF ambassador, Vespucci will also show the flag of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) recently awarded for its constant commitment to environmental sustainability and sea protection initiatives, also emphasized by the Organization of United Nations (ONU) on World Oceans Day with the campaign announcement made by UN Undersecretary-General for Legal Affairs Miguel de Serpa Soares.
The tour will also develop and consolidate collaborations in the academic and university fields, especially in the field of scientific research and the protection of the marine system, also promoting the environmental objectives of World Oceans Day.
The onboard officer cadets of the 1st class of the Naval Academy of Livorno receive their baptism of the sea during the summer training campaign. According to the latest plans, the Vespucci will leave the Mediterranean basin and follow the African Coast until Capo Verde where she will cross the Atlantic Ocean for Santo Domingo and then down to Buenos Aires, where she will arrive on November with only the crew for a maintenance period. She will set sail back in April 2024 for Chile and then up to Los Angeles where a new 1st class of officer cadets will embark for Honolulu and then Japan, down to Australia, where the crew will continue through Asia and Middle East to return to the Mediterranean through the Suez Channel and back to her homeport in La Spezia in February 2025.
Built at the Castellammare di Stabia (near Naples) royal naval shipyard and launched on 22 February 1931, the Amerigo Vespucci is the oldest vessel in service with the Italian Navy. Delivered to the Regia Marina in 26 May 1931, it entered into service as school ship on 6 June of the same year. Since then she has conducted 86 training campaigns in favour of the 1st class of officer cadets of the Naval Academy of Livorno, including two campaigns during the only previous Globe circumnavigation between May 2022 and September 2003, during which she was involved in the America’s Cup 2003 edition in New Zealand.
These are the calls of the round-the-world trip:
- Marseille (France): 04-07 July 2023
- Las Palmas (Spain): 19-22 July 2023
- Dakar (Senegal): 29 July – 01 August 2023
- Praia (Cape Verde): 04-06 August 2023
- Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic): 28 August-02 September 2023
- Cartagena (Colombia): 07-10 September 2023
- Port of Spain (Trinidad): 18-19 September 2023
- Fortaleza (Brazil): 04-08 October 2023
- Rio de Janeiro (Brazil): 20-24 October 2023
- Montevideo (Uruguay): 02-05 November 2023
- Buenos Aires (Argentina): 06 November 2023 – 01 April 2024
- Ushuaia (Argentina) and Punta Arenas (Chile): 13-16 April 2024
- Valparaiso (Chile): 28 April – 02 May 2024
- Callao (Peru): 12-15 May 2024
- Guayaquil (Ecuador): 21-24 May 2024
- Balboa (Panama): 31 May – 02 June 2024
- Acapulco (Mexico): 15-19 June 2024
- Los Angeles (USA): 01-06 July 2024
- Honolulu (USA): July 24-28, 2024
- Tokyo (Japan): 25-30 August 2024
- Manila (Philippines): 14-18 September 2024
- Darwin (Australia): 04 -07 October 2024
- Jakarta (Indonesia): 20-24 October 2024
- Singapore (Republic of Singapore): 30 October – 03 November 2024
- Mumbai (India): 24-28 November
- Karachi (Pakistan): 03-06 December 2024
- Doha (Qatar): 13-16 December 2024
- Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates): 18-21 December 2024
- Muscat (Oman): 24-27 December 2024
- Safaga (Egypt): 15-18 January 2025
- Larnaca (Cyprus): 29-31 January 205
- La Spezia (Italy): 11 February 2025
