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The Italian Navy Tall Ship Amerigo Vespucci Returns to Malta
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File Photos, 2011 (Pater Paul Barbara)
After 11 years, since its last visit in 2011, the Italian Navy Training Tall Ship, Amerigo Vespucci, returned to the Grand Harbour for a two day visit on the 26th of August. This time round the ship carried the Italian Naval Academy first year midshipmen.
The Malta visit was the last international stop on the 2022 training campaign calendar. This summer’s route included stops at Palermo, Tunis, Algiers, Lisbon, Casablanca, Cadiz, Trapani, and Valletta. In July 2020, the ship also sailed in Maltese territorial waters but was restricted due to the Covid pandemic.
The ship which can carry over 400 personnel onboard was open for the public to visit, serving also for the crew and midshipmen an opportunity to enhance their cultural background.
The Amerigo Vespucci visited Malta for the first time on February 19, 1935. The ship first set sail 90 years ago and is named after the famous explorer for whom America is named. It was designed together with her ‘sister’ ship Cristoforo Colombo, by Francesco Rotundi, director of the shipyards of Castellammare di Stabia, near Naples in Italy and was delivered to the Italian Navy on 2 July 1931. This tall ship mainly uses 24 sails, 14 squared rigged on the yards and 10 triangular “cruising sails”. The top height of the mainmast - from the waterline - is 54 meters, while the total sail area exceeds 2,700 square meters. The length of all the ship’s rigging running along the ship is longer than 30 km. The ship is also fitted with engines.
During this visit in Malta, the ship’s crew and the Italian navy midshipmen had the opportunity to visit the Island and welcome guests on board, while pursuing other activities which enabled them to enhance their cultural background and refine their training in one of the most important and strategic ports in the Mediterranean Sea.
