Mexican Naval Sailboat Docked at Mumbai After 15 Years

The largest instructional vessel in the Mexican Navy sails around the world every year as part of the training of their young cadets.

The Mexican Buque Escuela Velero ARM. “Cuauhtémoc” (BE-01) arrived to the ports of Mumbai on 22nd June and remained docked until the 26th June 2017.

Indian Navy band welcomed Cuauhtémoc to Mumbai Port

The historic vessel is named after the last Aztec Emperor, Cuauhtémoc. It made its first trip in 1982 and has so far completed 34 instructional journeys covering 705,012 nautical miles, which is equivalent to 33 laps around the world.

Ambassador Melba Pría welcomed the Mexican training vessel at Mumbai Port

The vessel, headed by Captain Rafael Antonio Lagunes Arteaga, set sail with a crew of 234, of which 43 are cadets of the Heroic Military Naval School of Mexico. “The journey of the Cuauhtémoc every year is for training purposes, but it also has as its mission to strengthen the ties of friendship between Mexico and other countries. We are proud to welcome it into India after 15 years since its last visit here”, said Ambassador Melba Pría, who was present at the docks to welcome the boat.

“Generations of Mexicans have an emotional bond with this boat. It has been given the nickname ‘Caballero de los Mares’, which means ‘Knight of the Seas’ in Spanish,” added Ambassador Melba Pría. In its long career, the Cuauhtémoc has visited 59 countries.

H.E. Ambassador Melba Pría and guests with Captain Rafael Antonio Lagunes Arteaga on board Cuauhtémoc
Mr. Suresh Prabhu, Minister of Railways | Admiral Sanjay Mahindru | Ambassador Melba Pría

For its 2017 tour, this moving naval academy will visit 15 ports in 12 countries. It had already reached Panama, the United States, Spain, Italy, Greece and Egypt before arriving to India.

Mexican Navy cadets on Cuauhtémoc (Pic courtesy:-Swarupa N Ovalekar)

On arrival to India, the crew and cadets observed a solemn moment for the young cadet Eva Lidia N., who fell overboard on 11 June 2017 due to inclement weather while performing a manoeuvre of sails.

During their stay, the Mexican crew and cadets participated in activities to bond with their counterparts from the Indian Navy, with the support of the Honorary Consulate of Mexico in Mumbai. They also undertook a guided tour of Mumbai, organised by Thomas Cook (India) Ltd.

After India, the Cuauhtémoc moved on to Singapore, the Philippines, China, South Korea, Japan, the United States, and will finish its journey at the Mexican port of Acapulco.

(Pic courtesy:-Swarupa N Ovalekar)

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