Russian tall ships cross the Indian Ocean within a round-the-world journey |09 April 2020
Russian frigate ‘Pallada’
Russian tall ships (barque ‘Sedov’ and frigate ‘Pallada’) are crossing the Indian Ocean within a round-the-world expedition dedicated to the 200th Anniversary of discovery of Antarctica by Russian explorers in 1820, and to the 75th Anniversary of Victory in World War II.
The vessels will pass some 600 miles away from Seychelles’ capital Victoria between April 8-10, 2020.
The expedition started in November 2019 and will continue till December this year. It is aimed at promoting cultural and educational ties.
The crews of the ships consist mostly of cadets from Russian maritime institutions and nautical clubs.
The journey will help the young people to broaden their sailing experience and better feel the diversity of the world through engaging in cross-cultural communication and learning human values of all continents.
During the voyage, the ships called at a number of ports, though the route had to be amended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On the initiative of President Vladimir Putin, the year 2020 was declared ‘Year of Antarctica’ in Russia. The discovery day of Antarctica is January 28, 1820, when Russian ships ‘Vostok’ and ‘Mirny’ under the command of F. Bellingshausen and M. Lazarev reached the shores of the Earth’s sixth continent.
In 1945, the people of Russia, driven by the same uncrushable spirit and courage, defended the territorial integrity and freedom of their Motherland and, together with Allies, saved the world from fascism.
While sailing in the waters of the Indian Ocean and passing by Seychelles and Mauritius, the ships received a greeting message from the secretary general of the Indian Ocean Commission, Hamada Madi, in which he wished success to the Russian ships in completing their friendship mission and welcomed them in the region.
The official website of the expedition is http://russiansails2020.ru/en/
Contributed by the Russian embassy
Photo sources: Russian embassy
