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On the year of the Argentine Republic 200th anniversary of independence, Frigate “Libertad” will be carrying a message of peace and friendship to the world in what has been designated the “Bicentennial Voyage”.
The 196 days long itinerary to 10 countries began last 23rd of April when she departed from Buenos Aires-Argentina. Before arriving in Greece (Piraeus & Hydra) she will have visited Recife (Brazil); Baltimore, Norfolk & New York (USA); Amsterdam (Holland); Boulogne Sur Mer & Brest (France); Liverpool (UK); Dublin (Ireland); Ferrol (Spain); Toulon (France); Citavecchia (Italy). The itinerary will continue with calls in Cádiz (Spain); Río de Janeiro (Brazil) and Montevideo (Uruguay), returning to Buenos Aires on November 5th.
It sails under the command of Captain Ignacio Errecaborde with a 350 crew on board, 20\% of which are women.
She will moor in the Port of Piraeus on the morning of the 3rd of September. The official program includes protocol visits, receptions on board; cultural visits and friendly sport matches between navy cadets of both countries. The Frigate will be open free to visit by the public, daily from 2 to 6pm.
She will depart towards Hydra on the 7th of September, where a tribute will be paid to the Greek-born sailors Samuel Spiro and Nicolas Jorge (Kolmaniatis), who joined and fought in Argentina´s war of independence two centuries ago. A wreath ceremony will take place at the monument to Nicolas Jorge (Kolmaniatis) which is erected in that island´s port, followed by an academic event at the Museum and Historical Archives of Hydra.
Built in 1956 and commissioned in 1963, Frigate A.R.A. “Libertad” has a length of 103.70 metres and 27 sails. Her figurehead represents the Republic and its rooted sense of liberty. More than 11.000 navy officers have been trained on board. Since 1963, the “Ambassador of the Seas” as she has been designated, has covered over 800.000 nautical miles and visited over 500 ports in 60 countries. In 2008 she toured
around the world for the fourth time in its history. The last time Frigate A.R.A “Libertad” visited Greece was almost 20 years ago, in 1997.
She has been internationally awarded and has won a number of important trophies, including the Great Medal in 1966; she also set the world record for the fastest North Atlantic crossing –which still stands to this day– covering 2,058 miles from Cape Race (Canada) to the Dublin/Liverpool line in just eight days and 12 hours.
THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS WELCOME TO VISIT
The Frigate will be open free to the public daily
3 to 6 September from 2:00 to 6:00 pm
Piraeus Port, Akti Miaouli, Pireas (entrance from Gate E11)
You can follow live the journey of the Frigate http://www.fragatalibertad.mindef.gob.ar/?page_id=2742
and enjoy a 360º virtual tour inside the vessel http://www.fragatalibertad.mindef.gob.ar/?page_id=2926
Detailed information attached. For any enquiry please contact the Argentine Embassy.
