Chilean Ship Esmeralda Salutes Pacific Fleet
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS060607-10
Release Date: 6/7/2006 9:41:00 PM
By Photographer's Mate Airman James Seward, Fleet Public Affairs Center, Pacific
SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- The Chilean ship Esmeralda (BE 43) visited San Diego during a navigational training mission June 2.
Sailors at Naval Base San Diego returned a 21-gun salute, fired first by Esmeralda as the ship entered San Diego Bay.
“The 21-gun salute is one of the highest honors a nation can [offer],” said Cmdr. Tom Sanford, weapons officer at Naval Base Coronado.
U.S. Navy Midshipmen toured and trained with their Chilean counterparts aboard Esmeralda.
“It was a great opportunity to see what the Chilean navy does similar and differently from our Navy,” said Midshipman 3rd Class Daniel Fletcher. “Seeing how a foreign military operates was interesting.”
According to Midshipman 3rd Class Allison Burns, the Chilean midshipmen aboard Esmeralda learn to navigate by the stars and sail by the wind. “Being on board was like going back in time,” said Burns.
Esmeralda is the designated training ship for Chilean Naval Academy graduates. The steel-hulled, four-masted barquentine tall ship is considered to be the biggest in its class. The ship gives the Chilean prospective officers one final training opportunity at sea before they enter the Chilean fleet.
“This is my first time visiting the United States,” said Chilean Midshipman Enrique Jimenez, line officer aboard Esmeralda. “I have a lot of admiration for the U.S. Navy.”
Besides working as a training ship for future Chilean officers, Esmeralda also acts as a floating embassy for its country, having visited more than 300 ports worldwide.
“We are visiting many places here in the U.S. with the intent to strengthen our relationship with the American Navy,” said Chilean Midshipman Christian Davanzo. “During our time in San Diego, we plan to visit the other naval bases along with the USS Midway Museum.”
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