KARACHI: Italian Floating Embassy, the 93-year-old tall wooden ship Amerigo Vespucci, reckoned as the world’s most beautiful vessel, took a taste of Italy on its 20-month long circumnavigation around the globe, visiting 36 ports in 32 countries, adding a new page in the art of navigation.
Amerigo Vespucci moored for three days at Karachi Port, its 29th stage of the world tour, (on 7th, 8th & 9th Dec, 2024) where it was welcomed, among others, by the Italian Ambassador Marilina Armellin, Vice Admiral Vincenzo Montanaro (Envoy of the Italian Chief of Naval Staff), Defense Attaché Enrico Rosa and Consul General Danilo Giurdanella.
Commanding Officer Captain Giuseppe Lai, while talking exclusively to Newspakistan.tv, told that Amerigo Vespucci first toured the world two decades ago:
“This visit is the first time Amerigo Vespucci is here in Pakistan. We are very proud to include Karachi in the world tour that started more than one year ago on 1st of July, 2023 from (the Port of) Genoa. After that we crossed the Mediterranean…We circumnavigated…Then after crossing the Pacific we went to South-East-Asia and now in Karachi.
“The first tour of the ship was in 2002-2003. But at that time the tour did not pass this way. They went South…Australia and then to East Africa.” Speaking about the number of crew onboard, Captain Giuseppe Lai informed: “At the moment we have 250 people on board. But when we have the cadets of Naval Academy, the number grows up to 400”.
Unicef’s Goodwill Ambassador:
Amerigo Vespucci travelled as Unicef’s Goodwill Ambassador: “It means that we share with them the value of inclusion,” Commanding Officer Captain Giuseppe Lai deciphered.
The vessel was named Unicef’s Goodwill Ambassador on 30th July, 2007 at a ceremony in the port of Genoa: “Unicef entrusts the Vespucci with a message of peace and hope for the millions of boys and girls that Unicef helps so that it can spread it throughout the world”. The nomination was renewed on 4th July, 2016.
To testify to the role of Unicef’s Goodwill Ambassador, the flag of the United Nations Children’s Fund, which flies on board the ship, was delivered by the president of Unicef Italy, Giacomo Guerrera to the Commander, Captain Curzio Pacifici: “The Italian Committee for Unicef renews the appointment of Amerigo Vespucci as Goodwill Ambassador…
“…because through its important educational activity and mutual respect, without distinction of race, language, religion and political opinion, it demonstrates solidarity and support for Unicef’s initiatives. The Italian Committee entrusts her with a message of peace and hope for the millions of boys and girls that Unicef helps so that she can spread it in every part of the world”.
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Energy Efficiency & Reducing Environmental Impact:
During the work stoppage in 2013, which culminated in April 2016, Amerigo Vespucci is equipped with the cutting-edge technologies aimed at energy efficiency and reducing environmental impact. Captain Giuseppe Lai told that Italian Navy paid a lot of attention to the environment: “There is a lot of attention about the environment. This ship basically uses sails, (but) we also have an electric engine. When we (don’t have) enough wind we also use that. But there is always very high sensitivity about this topic.
“We are very glad to be here. We very happy to visit Pakistan. For the ship it is the first time. For me personally it is the second time specifically here in Karachi. I was here six year ago and I was very warmly welcomed by the Pakistani people.”
Captain Giuseppe Lai visited Karachi onboard Carlo Margottini 6 years ago:
Captain Giuseppe Lai, who visited Karachi onboard Carlo Margottini 6 years ago, while answering to Newspakistan.tv query, informed that Amerigo Vespucci, was an Italian explorer in late 15th– early 16th century.
Christopher Columbus and Amerigo Vespucci were Italian:
“Actually Amerigo Vespucci came after Christopher Columbus. We also have another ship named after Christopher Columbus that is a twin of this one,” Captain Giuseppe Lai told.
Although his voyages of discovery to the Americas were under the Spanish flag, Cristoforo Colombo (better known as Christopher Columbus) was actually an Italian.
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Amerigo Vespucci, the man who gave his name to America, was a scholar who deepened his understanding about the exploration of Christopher Columbus. While Christopher Columbus, who always believed that he had come across Asia, is known as the man who discovered the Americas, it was Amerigo Vespucci who figured out that the land was a new continent and the Continent was named after him: “This is very good for our students because we teach them that after perseverance, studying, deepening your knowledge you can achieve results.” Captain Giuseppe Lai stated.
Ambassador H.E. Marilina ARMELLIN, while talking exclusively to Newspakistan.tv stated: “We are very proud that the Italian flag yet again has come here to Karachi. It’s the 4th time an Italian ship docked here in Karachi in the last three years. This is yet again another testament to the friendship between Italy and Pakistan. We want to be present here, we want to continue and boost our friendship.”
Talking exclusively to NPTV, Consul General, Danilo Giurdanella said: “I am very happy to welcome here in Karachi Amerigo Vespucci, which is our historical training ship and an example of made in Italy excellence. She has been working with Italian Navy since 1931. And this is the first time the ship arrived in Karachi: An example of strengthening of bilateral relationship between Italy and Pakistan.”
Amerigo Vespucci’s Public Relations Officer Lt. Palma Agosta, pointed out that Leonardo Da Vinci’s saying “Not he who begins but that which perseveres”, was the motto of the ship that drives permanent crew (including 25 girls presently onboard) and students of the Naval Academy, to the sea.
“Not he who begins but that which perseveres”
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KARACHI: A group-photo snapped onboard Amerigo Vespucci here on 7th December, 2024.
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The pride of the Italian Navy, Amerigo Vespucci has carried out training activities every year since it entered service (with the exception of 1940, due to war events, and during extraordinary works), mainly for the benefit of the students of the Naval Academy. Entire generations of Officers have been trained on a ship whose main propulsion is the most ecological of all: sailing propulsion.
In addition to traditional sailing navigation, the sailing ship has a Diesel-Electric propulsion, created with an integrated system using modern and efficient Diesel-Generators.
On 5th day of April, 2024, the training ship Amerigo Vespucci, as part of its World tour, rounded Cape Horn, the southernmost hermitage of the American continent known for being one of the most challenging passages on the globe for navigation.
Cape Horn (Cabo de Hornos), is the place where the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans meet, generating continuous disturbances created by the proximity to Antarctica. These push enormous masses of water towards the Drake Passage, where the seabed suddenly rises to 100 meters from 4000 meters, determining unique weather conditions.
The passage, which occurred for the first time in the over 90 years of history of the Vespucci, was possible thanks to careful and meticulous planning of the navigation and evaluation of the weather and sea conditions, which were more essential than ever for the success of the mission.
Rounding Cape Horn is one of the key moments of the world tour, a new page in the art of navigation and a new goal achieved in the long history of the Amerigo Vespucci ship.
The Amerigo Vespucci, guardian of the most ancient naval and seafaring traditions for 93 years – is one of the most well-known symbols of Italy in the world.
The initiative of the “Vespucci World Tour”, strongly supported by the Minister of Defense Guido Crosetto, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and other Ministries as well, combines the traditional training activity of the Officer cadets and the promotion of the excellence of Made in Italy.
The Vespucci is the emblem of the Navy and of Italy itself: following the maritime traditions, over the years it has contributed to the growth of the country’s prestige.
The ship left the Port of Genoa on July 1, 2023 to complete a round-the-world trip lasting about 2 years and brings with it the culture, history, innovation, science, research, technology, which make Italy a country, appreciated throughout the world.
An exposition of photographs titled Siamo Mare – We Are Sea, is also travelling with the stunning historic ship Amerigo Vespucci, featuring Italian coastal landscape, beauty of the sea, biodiversity and environmental sustainability.
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