“La Unión” the new Peruvian Navy tall ship sail training vessel, will be constructed under the supervision of classification society Germanischer Lloyd (GL). Tall ships are used in navies around the world to build seamanship, leadership and foster teamwork under challenging conditions at sea.
The keel laying for the new ship took place in December 2012 at Marine Industrial Services (SIMA), the Peruvian shipyard where the new vessel will be constructed. The 50 million dollar project will involve more than 800 people working on the vessel’s construction, including regional craftsmen from Peru who will provide the carved wood used on the ship.
The design of the vessel is a four masted barque, with 3400m2 sail area. Each of the masts is anchored in the keel and stretches some 60m in height, as tall as a 20 story building. A barque is a classic ship design, the workhorse of the 18th and 19th centuries, square rigged with three or four masts. La Unión has fours masts: three square rigged masts with the aftmost mast rigged fore-and-aft.
“The tall ship continues to hold a special place in the development of naval seamen and we are extremely gratified to have been selected to work with the Peruvian Navy and SIMA to bring this historic project to life,” said Gabriela Miranda, Business Development Manager, Germanischer Lloyd. “Tall ship sail training continues to be important to today’s navies as it brings out the essential qualities of adaptability, grace under pressure, leadership and teamwork, in trainees. GL is proud to maintain the traditions of these vessels through this project and our unique expertise in the classification of rigging for tall ships.”
When completed La Unión will be one of the largest Class A tall ships currently operating, with a total length (including bowsprit) of 113.5m, a beam of 13.5m, and a draft of 11.5m. The ship will accommodate some 257 people, with space for 134 marine cadets in 36 two to four person cabins. It has an officer complement of 25 and can accommodate 257 people in total.
La Unión is not only designed to build teamwork and teach new cadets the fundamentals of sailing but also to act as a floating embassy for Peru. Large interior spaces mean that there is room for trade shows and receptions. The capacity of the vessel will also allow it to be used for humanitarian aid missions. Construction of La Unión is slated for completion in 2015.
GL still has rules covering the rigging of tall ships and works to ensure the preservation of this knowledge. GL also offers a condition survey on tall ship rigs, conducted by surveyors particularly experienced in the field. The physical survey puts a tall ship rig through its paces, inspecting for structural degradations, malfunctions, and wear and tear of spars, components and fittings. The new service will soon be complemented by an upcoming set of Guidelines, the GL Guidelines for Inspection and Maintenance of Tall Ship Rigs.
[mappress] Press release, August 1, 2013; Image: GL