Palinuro Training Ship at the Port of Civitavecchia

The Training Ship Palinuro, owned by the Italian Navy, will be moored at dock 7 in the Port of Civitavecchia from June 29 until July 2.

The schooner, currently in a training campaign with first year students attending the "Francesco Morosini" Navy School at Venice, will welcome visitors during the following times and days:

- Wednesday June 29: from 15.00 to 18.00 and from 21.00 to 23.00;
- Thursday June 30: from 15.00 to 18.00 and from 21.00 to 23.00;
- Friday July 1: from 10.00 to 12.00, from 15.00 to 18.00 and from 21.00 to 23.00.

History and curious facts

Launched in 1934 in France, in the shipyards of Nantes with the name of Commandant Louis Richard, the ship was used as a transport and fishing vessel by a private French company.

Armed with three lugsails and equipped with a 375 hp diesel engine, it was purchased by the Italian Navy in 1950, after losing the Cristopher Colombus Training Ship, ceded to Russia as compensation for the damages of war.

Thanks to the care of La Spezia Dockyard, the schooner became a training ship and on July 16, 1955 it came definitively in duty.

From 1955 to today the Palinuro has touched most of the ports in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe traveling, generally, about 300 thousand nautical miles.

The figurehead represents the boatman Palinuro, character of the Aeneid, to whom Enea in person decided to entrust the delicate task of guiding their ship toward the land during a storm.

The motto of the vessel could not be more appropriate: "Faventibus Ventis" that is "With the favor of the Winds".

Technical data

If you are curious:

• Launched: 21/03/1934
• Shipyard: Dubigeon Shipyard (France)
• Displacement: 1341 t p.c.
• Lenght: 59 m (69 m all)
• Widht: 10 m
• Sails: 1000 square meters
• Draught: 4,8 m
• Engine System: 1 M.T.P. G.M.T. B230-6N (aspired)
• Electrical System: 3 three-phase diesel-alternators 380V 50 Hz
• Power: 447,5 KW (600,11 HP)
• Speed: 9.5 knots
• Autonomy: 5400 mg (diesel engine)
• Crew: 84 members

Training will conclude during the stopover in Cagliari from July 4 to 7, 2016 and will continue in the period between mid-July and mid-September with the boarding of the students of the National Italian Navy Association (ANMI), of the Italian Sailing Training Association (STA - Italy) and of the Italian Navy League in the route Cagliari-Siracusa-Crotone. Then, they will start the traditional educational cruise for pupils of the XVIII Marshal Normal Course of the Non-Comissioned Officers School of Taranto.

Navigatiion will move from the Aegean Sea to the Black Sea: a chance for future non-commissioned officers of the Navy to make contact with life on board, to learn the rudiments of nautical sciences and seafaring.

An activity focused on formation and transmission of the traditions of the Navy to young students, as well as a unique opportunity to climb aboard and visit this splendid ship!

Here's our photo report!