Simón Bolívar (barque)
Encyclopedia
Simón Bolívar is a training vessel for the Venezuelan Navy. She sails from the home port of La Guaira
and is a frequent participant in tall ship
events. She is named after Simón Bolívar
, the liberator of Bolivia, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Panama and Venezuela.
. She is one of four similar barques built as sail training vessels for Latin American navies; her half-sisters are the Mexican Cuauhtémoc, the Columbian Gloria
and the Ecuadoran Guayas. She was launched in Bilboa on 21 November 1979.
in 1986 and again in 2000, visiting New York on both occasions. She formed part of the French Voiles de la liberté in 1989, Armada de la liberté in 1994 and Armada du siècle in 1999. From 2002 until 2008 she was in refit at Diques y Astilleros Nacionales Compañía Anónima
state shipyard in Puerto Cabello
.
She participated in Velas Sudamerica 2010, a deployment of 11 South American tall ships to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the first national government in South America. In 2011 she travelled to the Azores
, Bremerhaven
, Saint Petersburg
and Cadiz
, sailing from her homeport of La Guaira on 25 February and returning on 15 June.
La Guaira
La Guaira is the capital city of the Venezuelan state of Vargas and the country's chief port. It was founded in 1577 as an outlet for Caracas, to the southeast. The town and the port were badly damaged during the December 1999 floods and mudslides that affected much of the region...
and is a frequent participant in tall ship
Tall ship
A tall ship is a large, traditionally-rigged sailing vessel. Popular modern tall ship rigs include topsail schooners, brigantines, brigs and barques. "Tall Ship" can also be defined more specifically by an organization, such as for a race or festival....
events. She is named after Simón Bolívar
Simón Bolívar
Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios Ponte y Yeiter, commonly known as Simón Bolívar was a Venezuelan military and political leader...
, the liberator of Bolivia, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Panama and Venezuela.
Design
Simón Bolívar was built in the Spanish shipyard of Astilleros Celaya in BilbaoBilbao
Bilbao ) is a Spanish municipality, capital of the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. With a population of 353,187 , it is the largest city of its autonomous community and the tenth largest in Spain...
. She is one of four similar barques built as sail training vessels for Latin American navies; her half-sisters are the Mexican Cuauhtémoc, the Columbian Gloria
ARC Gloria
The ARC Gloria is a training ship and official flagship of the Colombian Navy."ARC" stands for "Armada Nacional de la República de Colombia."- History :...
and the Ecuadoran Guayas. She was launched in Bilboa on 21 November 1979.
History
She was commissioned on 12 August 1980. She participated in Operation SailOperation Sail
Operation Sail refers to a series of sailing events held to celebrate special occasions and features sailing vessels from around the world. Each event is coordinated by Operation Sail, Inc., a non-profit organization established in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy and must be approved by the...
in 1986 and again in 2000, visiting New York on both occasions. She formed part of the French Voiles de la liberté in 1989, Armada de la liberté in 1994 and Armada du siècle in 1999. From 2002 until 2008 she was in refit at Diques y Astilleros Nacionales Compañía Anónima
DIANCA
DIANCA or Diques y Astilleros Nacionales Compañía Anónima is the state shipyard of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. It was created in 1905 in the city of Puerto Cabello, Carabobo state....
state shipyard in Puerto Cabello
Puerto Cabello
Puerto Cabello is a city on the north coast of Venezuela. It is located in Carabobo State about 75 km west of Caracas. As of 2001, the city has a population of around 154,000 people. The city is the home to the largest port in the country and is thus a vital cog in the country's vast oil...
.
She participated in Velas Sudamerica 2010, a deployment of 11 South American tall ships to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the first national government in South America. In 2011 she travelled to the Azores
Azores
The Archipelago of the Azores is composed of nine volcanic islands situated in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, and is located about west from Lisbon and about east from the east coast of North America. The islands, and their economic exclusion zone, form the Autonomous Region of the...
, Bremerhaven
Bremerhaven
Bremerhaven is a city at the seaport of the free city-state of Bremen, a state of the Federal Republic of Germany. It forms an enclave in the state of Lower Saxony and is located at the mouth of the River Weser on its eastern bank, opposite the town of Nordenham...
, Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
and Cadiz
Cádiz
Cadiz is a city and port in southwestern Spain. It is the capital of the homonymous province, one of eight which make up the autonomous community of Andalusia....
, sailing from her homeport of La Guaira on 25 February and returning on 15 June.