The ‘Juan Sebastián de Elcano’ returns to Cadiz after completing her 93rd Training Cruise around the Globe.

The training ship ‘Juan Sebastián de Elcano’ arrived this Sunday, June 13th at the Port of Cadiz, after almost ten months of navigation, in a poignant ceremony presided over by His Majesty the King. The Chief of Staff of the Spanish Navy received on board the President of the Andalusian Regional Government and the Mayor of Cadiz moments before both authorities met the King Felipe VI.

After a demanding cruise which began last August and which has been seriously conditioned due to the current situation of the COVID pandemic, the midshipmen and the crew were able to meet their families.

This training cruise was characterized by the fact that it took place during a worldwide pandemic, which forced the crew to remain confined in exclusive reserved and restricted spaces during the whole voyage, including port calls. These circumstances, apart from having provided an exceptional added value to this circumnavigation of the Earth, offer an extraordinary example of professionalism, self-improvement and spirit of sacrifice of the ship's crew.

During the training cruise, the ship has completed its 11th round-the-world trip on the occasion of the commemoration of the 500 anniversary of the First Circumnavigation of the Earth, having had the opportunity to call at the same ports where Magellan and Elcano's expedition arrived 500 years ago. This time, the training ship has visited the cities of San Julián (Argentina) and Punta Arenas (Strait of Magellan, Chile) in October; Guam (Marianas, USA), Samar and Cebrián (Chile) in October. She also visited, among others, Montevideo (Uruguay), Guayaquil (Ecuador), Jakarta (Indonesia), Shalala (Oman) and, after crossing the Suez Canal, Souda (Greece) and Valletta (Malta).

At 4.30 p.m. of the same day the ship set sail from the city of Cadiz heading towards La Carraca Naval Station in San Fernando, concluding both her 93rd Training Cruise, and her 11th round-the-world trip in extremely harsh conditions.