‘Juan Sebastián de Elcano’ starts her 92nd Training Cruise.

The training ship ‘Juan Sebastián de Elcano’ set sail last Sunday from Cádiz to start her 92nd midshipmen training cruise.

The farewell ceremony was presided over by the Chief of Staff of the Spanish Navy, Admiral General Teodoro López Calderón, accompanied by other civilian and military authorities.

The commanding officer of the ‘Juan Sebastián de Elcano’ is Captain Santiago de Colsa and her crew consists of 20 officers, 23 NCOs, 143 leading seamen and ratings, and 2 civilians, plus 55 midshipmen from the 422nd Spanish Navy graduation class and the 152nd Marine Corps graduation class.

The purpose of the Training Cruise aboard the ‘Juan Sebastián de Elcano’ is to contribute to the overall training (military, nautical, technical, socio-cultural, ethical-human and physical) of the embarked students, through classes, instruction and training both at sea and in port. Likewise, the ship supports the external action of the State through naval presence in several ports. This year, as a novelty, the training ship will conduct oceanographic research studies in conjunction with the University of Cádiz and the “Explorers Club” of New York.

During the next six months the ‘Juan Sebastián de Elcano’ will visit the ports of Gran Canaria, Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Mar de Plata, Montevideo, Recife, Curacao, Santo Domingo and Miami, before returning to Cádiz by April 18th.