On 9 October 2023, Peruvian Navy’s training ship BAP Unión (BEV-161) sailed into Changi Naval Base, Singapore, for a 4-day interaction as part of its 2023-2024 Circumnavigational and Instructional Voyage (VIEX) for future officers of the Peruvian Navy.
01: BAP Unión basking in the late afternoon sun.
“Second-largest Training Ship in the World”
BAP Unión (Spanish: Buque Armada Peruana Unión) is 4-mast barque commissioned in 2016. Her namesake is a nod to the legacy of the 1865 corvette that saw participation in the War of the Pacific under the leadership of renowned Peruvian Naval Officer, Miguel Grau. This latest ship is a symbol of Peruvian pride, built wholly by the Shipping Marine Industrial Services of Peru (SIMA). With 34 sails, length of 115.7m, beam of 13.5m, and displacement of 3,500 tons, BAP Unión is the second-largest training ship in the world and the largest sail vessel in Latin America.
“Ambassador of the Seas for the World”
Apart from being a live classroom to complement the training process of naval cadets, BAP Unión also doubles as an ambassador of Peru for the world on training trips. Cadets take on the role of diplomatic hosts on scheduled visits, promoting maritime knowledge, traditions and unique aspects of Peruvian culture to the world.
02: “Training Sailing Ship Unión”, on the helm located midship.
03: 2021 plaque from the Peruvian Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, recognizing BAP Unión’s role as the “Travelling Embassy of Peru”.
“Circunnavegación” 2023 – 2024
BAP Unión set sail on 17 June 2023 from Callao Naval Base for its Circumnavigational and Instructional Voyage (VIEX) (Spanish: Viaje de Instrucción al Extranjero “Circunnavegación”). A 255 strong crew will bring the ship to 16 countries, 20 ports in this 311-day, 34,216 nautical mile trip around the world. 72 days will be spent in port, where diplomatic ties will be reaffirmed between Peru and host nations, and local members of the community will be able to visit the “Floating Peruvian Showcase” for a slice of what Peru has to offer.
04: 1:40,000,000 scale map showing the projected and actual route for the circumnavigation voyage. It will be due in Bombay, India, after the stop in Singapore.
All Aboard for a Tour of BAP Unión
With Singapore being the only Southeast Asian stop in its itinerary, it was a rare opportunity to experience the mix of classical and modern elements of this elegant vessel, on a public tour held on 13 October 2023. Soak into the atmosphere in our selection of photos from the visit below.
05: Stepping on the gangway to board the BAP Unión.
06: Painting of the BAP Unión commemorating the VIEX 2023-2024 Voyage.
07: 1 of the 4 masts that spans BAP Unión. With an aerial draft of 53.20m, the mast’s height is comparable to the length of an Olympic-sized swimming pool.
08: Honouring the 1865 BAP Unión with an inscription of the vessel’s first and the last campaign (Abtao 1886 and Arica 1880, respectively), alongside Nike, the Greek goddess of victory.
09: Each rope has end caps that feature the national colors of Peru.
10: Ceremonial cannons displayed on the main deck.
11: Ship’s bell on the main deck.
12: Well-maintained decks and polished name plates are visible throughout the ship.
13: The main helm located midship, outside the bridge. It includes communications systems to give sailing commands when in open seas.
14: Meanwhile, a suite of advanced navigational equipment is seen in the bridge, together with precise controls when engine propulsion is needed to come alongside.
15: Traditional seafaring is also taught to cadets in the plotting room, using equipment such as a sextant and compass set
16: The ship’s magnetic compass held inside the binnacle, which contains a gimbal to keep it level while underway.
17: Engine order telegraph located beside the helm.
18: BAP Unión‘s callsign “OBAA”, depicted as signal flags letters.
19: Helm located aft of the ship.
20: Bell located aft of the ship, with elaborate traditional Inca motifs.
21: BAP Unión’s Escutcheon. The crest bears the motto “Cudendum Character Nautarum“, its mission to forge a sailor’s character.
22: Docked not far away was sailing ship 286 Lê Quý Đôn of the Vietnamese Naval Academy, also on a friendly visit to Singapore shores.
23: Lifeboat on the upper deck of BAP Unión.
24: “Casa Peru” exhibit showcasing products from their homelands.
25: Colorful hats are an important piece of identity for Peruvian women, symbolizing their heritage and cultural origins.
26: The alpaca is the treasure of the Andes, protected for thousands of years. Peruvians have used sustainable methods to produce some of the finest alpaca fleece in the world.
27: Peru is located in the “Coffee Bean Belt”, hence coffee is one of its main agricultural exports.
28: A selection of wine and spirits of Peruvian origin. In the middle are Pisco Armada and Tabernero Pisco made to commemorate the global voyage.
29: A large geographical portion of Peru comprises of the Amazon rainforest, with awareness being raised for sustainable growth whilst preserving rich cultural identities of the communities.
30: An interesting device conceptualized in the 1700’s, the “Weems Stormglass Mysterious Weather Predictor”.
