Chile's 'floating embassy' to come to Busan this week
.jpg?w=728)
The Esmeralda, the Chilean Navy’s training ship, is seen docked. The ship will visit Busan from Sept. 6 to 10 as part of its 61st round-the-world voyage worldwide. / Courtesy of Carlos Schnaidt
By Yi Whan-woo
The Esmeralda is more than just a Chilean Navy ship.
With a pristine white hull, brass portholes and four masts topped with Chilean flags, the training ship has served as a floating embassy since she was built in Spain and delivered to Chile in 1954.
The ship has travelled to hundreds of ports worldwide since then. They include Busan, which she will visit for the eighth time from Sept. 6 to 10.
“As Chilean diplomats, we are keenly aware of the significance of a port call of this training ship,” Chilean Ambassador to Korea Fernando Danus said in an-email last week. “Sometimes the Esmeralda is given the name of ‘Chile’s Ambassador’ and that portrayal corresponds to reality.” The ship visited several cities where Danus served, including New York (1986), Wellington (1993), Singapore (1995, 2012) and Bali (2002).
“To some extent, my path along Chile’s foreign service has been marked by this imposing ship,” the ambassador said.
“I am looking forward to receiving the Esmeralda and its crew once again. My mission as Chilean Ambassador to the Republic of Korea will be enhanced by their visit.”
Esmeralda commanding officer Carlos Schnaidt voiced a similar view.
“It’s a messenger of friendship to all the countries where she goes,” he said in an e-mail. “To arrive in a foreign port means to show the culture and traditions of Chile and its navy.
“It improves the ties between our countries because the knowledge between each other creates confidence, and that opens the doors for both countries.”
The Esmeralda’s visit to Busan is part of the ship’s 61st voyage for seven months until January 2017.
Her trip so far has included Easter Island, Honolulu and Tokyo.
There are 310 crew plus 15 international guests. One guest is from the Korean Navy, according to the Chilean Embassy in Seoul.
The crew will join a press conference on board at 9:30 a.m. on Sept. 6.
From Sept. 7 to 9, the ship will be open for two hours to a pre-registered group of visitors at 10 a.m. for two hours.
The crew will hold a commemorative ceremony at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Busan on Sept. 9.
The Chilean and Korean Navy bands will hold a concert at Gwangalli Beach later the same day.
The crew will also visit Jinhae Naval Base in South Gyeongsang Province and several defense companies.
After a five-day stay in Busan, the ship is scheduled to sail to Shanghai, Bali, Sydney, Auckland in New Zealand and Papeete in Tahiti before returning to Chile.