Mexican Navy sailboat Cuauhtémoc docks in Mumbai after 15 years

The Mexican naval sailboat Buque Escuela Velero ARM “Cuauhtémoc” (BE-01) has docked in Mumbai port after 15 years.

The embassy in New Delhi, which is also accredited for Bangladesh, said the largest instructional vessel in the Mexican Navy sails around the world every year as part of the training of their young cadets.

It arrived in ports of Mumbai on Wednesday and will remain docked until June 26.

The vessel, headed by Captain Rafael Antonio Lagunes Arteaga, had set sail with a crew of 234, of which 43 are cadets of the Heroic Military Naval School of Mexico.

“The journey of the Cuauhtémoc every year is for training purposes, but it also has its mission to strengthen the ties of friendship between Mexico and other countries. We are proud to welcome it into India after 15 years since its last visit here”, said Ambassador Melba Pría, who was present at the docks to welcome the boat, on Wednesday.

Ambassador Melba Pría with Captain Rafael Antonio Lagunes Arteaga on board Cuauhtémoc.

The historic vessel is named after the last Aztec Emperor, Cuauhtémoc. It made its first trip in 1982 and has so far completed 34 instructional journeys covering 705,012 nautical miles, which is equivalent to 33 laps around the world.

“Generations of Mexicans have an emotional bond with this boat. It has been given the nickname ‘Caballero de los Mares’, which means ‘Knight of the Seas’ in Spanish,” added the ambassador.

In its long career, the Cuauhtémoc has visited 59 countries.

During their stay, the Mexican crew and cadets will participate in activities to bond with their counterparts from the Indian Navy. They will also will take a guided tour of Mumbai.

After India, the Cuauhtémoc will go on to Singapore, the Philippines, China, South Korea, Japan, the United States, and will finish its journey at the Mexican port of Acapulco.