The popular cruise Argentine Vessel Frigate ARA Liberated is docked at the city of Barbados for its upcoming 52nd training voyage. Earlier, it was at the port of Baltimore for the training sessions, from where it was en route to Barbados on 17 September 2024.
Barbados welcomed the cruise ship for its training in the city. The ship had visited Barbados island earlier in 1974. This year marks its 50 years of visit along with an official 2nd trip to the town.
Various renowned personalities were present on the one side of the cruise. Mr. Charley Browne (Permanent Secretary (International Transport) in the Ministry of Tourism and International Transport), Ciro Ciliberto (Argentina’s Ambassador to Barbados), Barbados Graham Rocheford (Defence Force Lieutenant Commander), and officers from the Barbados Coast Guard.
All of them gave a grand welcome to Alfredo Ureta, Commander Navy Captain. The permanent secretary of the cruise expressed his happiness by providing a grand welcome to the cruise captain and members.
He also said that “the berth of the ship is a significant milestone.” He gave his best wishes to the entire crew of Argentine Vessel Frigate ARA Liberated and wished them a pleasant stay in Barbados.
This cruise ship holds a record for being the ‘fastest cruise ship.’ It is steel-hulled and fully rigged. It has a position of Class A in the Argentine Navy. The vessel was designed and built in the 1950s by Rio Santiago Shipyard in Argentina.
Before coming to Barbados, the voyage gave a great experience to the Sail Baltimore people. More than 3,000 people were able to tour the decks of the training ship, many of them of Latin origin or descent, who interacted with the crew and learned about the mission, characteristics, and activities carried out in the Ambassador to the Seas.
The Midshipmen on Commission carried out different professional, cultural, and protocol activities, including a visit to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis (Maryland), where they were able to tour military institutions that give training sessions to commissioned officers of the Navy and the Marine Corps.
The vessel has covered a distance of about 800,000 nautical miles (1,500,000 km) across all seas. Also, it has traveled to more than 500 ports across 60 different countries. The voyage holds particular importance in providing training to nearly 11,000 Navy graduates.
Sources indicate the voyage will be covering various parts of Barbados and will successfully complete its 52nd training in the town.
