If you are a fan of ships, you must’ve heard of the iconic 93-year-old Italian ship touted as the ‘World’s most beautiful ship’. The Amerigo Vespucci set sail from its home country last year on July 1, 2023, with the goal of docking at 30 ports, across 28 countries and five continents. On Friday, 29th November, the ship landed on Mumbai’s shores, with an enthusiastic crowd eager to catch a glimpse of the iconic vessel.
The Amerigo Vespucci In Mumbai, Its 28th Port Call
For the first time in its maritime history, the ship has fared in Indian waters with Mumbai being its 28th port call. This also marks a milestone chapter for diplomatic ties between India and Italy. The ship set sail from La La Spezia, Italy on July 1, 2023, with a crew of 250 and has since touched major ports like those in Los Angeles in the USA, Tokyo in Japan and Singapore, among others. While the ship’s gangplank is open to Mumbaikars till today, 2nd December, the ship remains a timeless testament to world-class architecture beautifully blended with artistic elements.
The Italian Government backs the Villagio Italia initiative, which accompanies the Amerigo Vespucci. This initiative or expo aims to showcase live music, design, food, culture, and film screenings in collaboration with the Venice International Film Festival among many other exciting activities.
All About The Amerigo Vespucci – World’s Most Beautiful Ship
The Amerigo Vespucci is named after the prolific Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci. Today, it is a training ship acting as a launchpad for Italian cadets. It is a tradition of the Italian Navy that new naval officers must be well-adjusted to the traditional navigation of the olden times. That is why they must spend time on this ship, as a part of their training process. This process has been in practice since the inception of this ship in the year 1931.
Today, the Amerigo Vespucci trains about 100 cadets, supervised by a crew working in four-hour shifts around the clock. In fact, three cadets turn each of the four wheels of the vessel since it has no motor.
In 1925, the Italian Royal Navy received an order to design two ships inspired by the style of the large 18th-century 74-cannon ships of the line. Accordingly, the Cristoforo Colombo and the Amerigo Vespucci came into being. The Italian Navy used the former from 1928 to 1943, and after World War II, the USSR received it as war reparations. The authorities decommissioned it shortly after. The Italian Navy commissioned the Amerigo Vespucci in 1931, and it remains a training ship today.
While most of its training cruises are in Europe. The ship has sailed across the waters of North and South America, as well as the Pacific Ocean. In 1960, the ship bore the Olympic torch from Piraeus to Syracuse for the Summer Olympics in Rome. With such a fascinating history and a key role in the Italian Navy, this ‘world’s most beautiful’ ship is a sight to behold!
