MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chilean and Argentine cadets in naval cruise

Forty two Argentine naval cadets will be participating in the Chilean Navy's fiftieth instruction cruise aboard the “Esmeralda” which leaves March 13 from Valparaiso.

The Chilean tall ship also identified as the "White Lady" with 75 Chilean cadets and a crew of 55 plus the Argentines will be visiting Iquique (north Chile); Callao (Peru); Guayaquil (Ecuador); Rodamn (PANAMA); Cartagena (Colombia); Miami (United States); Norfolk (USA); San Juna Puerto Rico; Salvador (Brazil); Rio do Janeiro; Buenos Aires; Punta Arenas and back to Valparaiso.

A first batch of 21 Argentine cadets will travel in the north leg of the cruise from Valparaiso to Norfolk while the other 21 from Norfolk back to Chile.

The idea of inviting the Argentine Navy cadets was extended last October by the Commander of the Chilean Navy Admiral Miguel Vergara, to his counterpart Admiral Jorge Omar Godoy since the Argentine instruction frigate "Libertad" is undergoing extensive refurbishing and will be out of operations for several months.