The photo shows a weapon-rack with rifles onboard the ship.
The vessel had a large collection of coat of arms and plaques, received as presents on visiting different foreign harbours.
The stairs lead up to the main deck steerage cabin. All floors and deck, were scrubbed each morning with sand and water to maintain a good appearance.
Onboard, the luxurious interior was well kept. All fittings were polished each day and the ship was shining clean.
Swedish East India Company's Managing Director, Jörgen Gabrielson, says thanks for the visit by signing the guest book.
Regular well drilled and disciplined changing of the guard took place onboard and on the quay outside the ship.
This beautiful and decorated balcony in the stern, previously had a different and important function. On the balcony, fruit and vegetables were grown in terracotta pots to counteract scurvy. Nowadays only flowers are grown, and with the visit to Gothenburg, one has honoured the Swedish hospitality with Pelargonias in the flower boxes.
Here can be seen one of the strong 410 crew members on guard duty.
Because the ship has such great momentum, four manned helms are needed for steerage.
The sail training ship tied up at the American Shed in Gothenburg's harbour, and was open to the public during the weekend.
The lifeboat seen in the photo, hails from the sister ship Christopher Columbus, which was left for the Russians as reparation after World War Two. Later on the Russians used material from the vessel to build a new ship, and the lifeboat is the only thing left of the sister ship, Christopher Columbus.
Information about the ship:FLAG: Italy RIG: Full-rigged ship HOMEPORT: La Spezia, Italy CURRENT USE: Sail-training ship for the Italian Navy YEAR BUILT: 1931 WHERE BUILT: Castellamare di Stalia, Italy SPARRED LENGTH: 332 feet LENGTH ON DECK: 271 feet BEAM (width): 51 feet DRAFT: 21.5 feet MAIN MAST HEIGHT: 151 feet SAIL AREA: 22,600 sq. feet (23 sails) GROSS TONNAGE: 4,100 tons CAPTAIN: Ugo Bertelli CREW: 450
The Italian Navy's Sail Training Ship visited SOIC
The city of Gotheborg and SOIC P/L had the pleasure of an informal visit of the Italian Sail Training Ship," Amerigo Vespucci", on 12 - 16th. August, 1999.Included in the mutual exchange, was an appreciated visit by SOIC's personell to the sail training ship. Both SOIC's personell and the crew of the sail training ship, took part in the fast transport which Naval Command West offered, via their "Combat Boat 90."
This Italian sail training ship is designed by marine engineer Francesco Rotundi, and the building process was finished in 1930 at the royal shipyard Castellammare di Stabia. She is equipped with an engine, propellers and has three masts. There are three main decks onboard. The ship measures 101 meters from bowsprit to stern, and the width is 15.5 meters. The mainmast is 54 meters high, and total sail area is 2800sq.m. Displacement is 4100 tonnes. There are 410 crew members.In later years (1951, 1958, 1964, 1973 and 1984) she has had several repairs and extensive modifications. The mainmast was too high (54m.), so it had to be lowered before passing under the Alvsborgs bridge which has a clearance of 45 meters.
