The Mexican Navy training ship ARM Cuauhtémoc sailed beneath the Golden Gate Bridge and into San Francisco Bay on Wednesday, beginning a goodwill visit to the city.
The three-masted vessel arrived at Piers 15-17 on the Embarcadero at about 8.45am, where it was welcomed by local officials, community leaders and representatives of Mexico’s consulate.
The visit is the ship’s first to San Francisco in 17 years and forms part of a 92-day North Pacific training cruise covering ports in Mexico, the United States and Canada. The voyage is designed to give Mexican naval cadets practical experience in navigation, seamanship, leadership and life at sea.
Built in Spain in the early 1980s, the ARM Cuauhtémoc serves as both a training vessel and a floating classroom for the Mexican Navy. It is named after Cuauhtémoc, the final ruler of the Aztec empire, and is regarded by Mexico as a maritime ambassador promoting friendship and co-operation.
Music and traditional Mexican dancing featured during the ceremonial arrival, as members of the public gathered to watch the ship berth beside the Exploratorium.
The vessel is open to visitors free of charge during scheduled sessions from Thursday to Saturday, allowing people to see its decks, masts and rigging and meet members of the crew.
A farewell ceremony is due to take place at the dock at 9.30am on Sunday, September 27, before the ARM Cuauhtémoc leaves San Francisco at 10am for its next stop in San Diego.
