MUSCAT, DEC 17
The Italian Navy’s training ship, Amerigo Vespucci, billed as ‘The Most Beautiful Ship in the World’, is set to call at Port Sultan Qaboos in Muscat next month – a landmark visit that underscores the Sultanate of Oman’s appeal as a destination for cruise ships and classic sailing vessels.
The magnificent tall ship, with its stunning vintage design and soaring masts, will dock at Muscat port during the second week of January, according to Khimji Ramdas Shipping, which is facilitating the maiden port visit.
Doubling as a Maritime Heritage Ambassador for Unesco and Unicef, as well as the Italian Republic, the Vespucci is currently at the tail end of a two-year-long global voyage that covers 30 ports in 28 countries in five continents.
During its passage through the Gulf region, the majestic tall ship is scheduled to stop over at Doha and Abu Dhabi ports before arriving in Muscat on a visit spanning several days. It sails onward to Safaga (Egypt) and Larnaca (Cyprus) before concluding its world tour at La Spezia in Italy in February.
Named after the famed Italian explorer and navigator Amerigo Vespucci, who participated in two historic voyages to the New World in the early part of the 16th Century, the training was first launched in February 1931. Notably, the Americas get their name from this legendary figure.
Spanning an overall length of 101 metres (including its expansive bowsprit), the vessel’s sprawling three-main masts are reminiscent of ships built during the golden age of sailing. During a major refurbishment carried out in 2016, the 4,000-tonne ship was outfitted with modern facilities that included an electric propulsion system. The ship carries a crew of around 270 sailors on most sailings.
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