NRP Sagres: Portugal’s tallest Navy ship in Goa

It was a wonderful experience to have a visit to Portugal’s tallest Navy ship, NRP Sagres, which arrived in Goa. The Sagres is visiting Goa as part of its 2010 circumnavigation of the world to mark the arrival of the Portuguese to the Orient and Extreme Orient 500 years ago.

About Sagres:

The Sagres was built in 1937 in shipyard of Blohm & Voss in Hamburg and named the Albert Leo Schlageter. She was the 3rd of four ships built by the German Navy including the Horst Vessel (now the US Coast Guard ship, Eagle). and the Gorch Fock (now the Tovarishch of Ukraine). A sister-ship, Mircea, was also built for the Romanian Navy. During World War II she was taken to Bremerhaven shipyard after damage from a mine and captured by the U.S. forces in 1945. The ship was given to Brazil in 1948 and sailed in as a training ship in the Brazilian Navy under the name Guanabara. In 1962 she was purchased by Portugal purchased to replace the old sail training ship Sagres and is often referred to as the Sagres II.

News article as reported by the local daily the Herald

Portuguese ship anchors in Goa

HERALD REPORTER

Portuguese ship anchors in Goa
HERALD REPORTER
VASCO, NOV 12

Portugal’s tallest Navy ship, NRP Sagres, arrived in the State on Friday, amid protests and police protection at Mormugao Port.

Consul General de Portugal Antonio Sabido Costa welcomed the Portuguese ship, which is visiting Goa as a part of its 2010 circumnavigation of the world.

“The training ship Sagres, built in 1937 at the Blohm and Voss shipyards in Hamburg, is presently on its 2010 circumnavigation of the world. The ship departed Lisbon on January 19 and will conclude its journey in Portugal on December 23, after taking voyage in almost 18 nations,” said the Captain Proenca Mendes.

Due to the protests from freedom fighters and BJP workers, Vasco Police had deployed police force at the main entrance of the port as well as near the ship at Berth No 10, where the ship is anchored.

The welcome ceremony remained low profile, as media persons, police force and General de Portugal Antonio Sabido Costa along with two naval officers were present to welcome the ship.

Flag Officer of Goa Naval Area Sudhir Pillai, who was to receive the ship along with Costa, skipped the function, while his subordinate officers accompanied Costa.

Sagres is visiting Goa as part of its 2010 circumnavigation of the world to mark the arrival of the Portuguese to the Orient and Extreme Orient 500 years ago.

General de Portugal Antonio Sabido Costa said the ship is on goodwill visit, as it earlier visited Latin America for the 200 centenary freedom celebration, later it visited Japan for 150 agreement of signing of friendship treaty among both the nations and sailed in Shanghai for World expo. From Goa, the ship will sail to Alexandria, Egypt.

“This is one of the best ships of Portugal and I request the people to visit and see this ship,” said Costa.

The ship will be docked at Mormugao Port from November 12 to 16 for the general public.