Severe ice conditions hinder Venezuelan sailer to visit Russia

19.04.2011 Venezuelan sailing bark Simon Bolivar can not call at St. Petersburg port due to severe ice situation in the Gulf of Finland, reports Central Navy Portal referring to ice operational center of St. Petersburg port.

In accordance with the visit program, Venezuelan training sailer BE-11 Simon Bolivar was supposed to moor at Lt. Shmidt Embankment in Tuesday morning. So far, the time of the sailer's arrival in St. Petersburg is uncertain. Icebreaker escort presents a problem and is not safe because of strong wind causing ice twitch and lack of ice stiffening in the sailer. Currently, Simon Bolivar is anchored at the edge of ice floe near Rodsher Island. Icebreaker Karu provides the sailer's security.

The ship is named in honor of Venezuela's national hero Simon Bolivar who fought for Latin America's independence from Spain. The bark's bow is decorated with the Liberty wearing Phrygian cap and bursting chains of slavery.

Three-masted bark Simon Bolivar was built in 1979 at Spanish shipyard and is used as a training ship by cadets of Venezuelan naval academy.

The sailer's commanding officer is Captain Carlos Alberto Martin. The crew is 168 men.

A 100-day long cruise of the Venezuelan bark includes calls at Portuguese, German, Russian (St. Petersburg) and Spanish ports. The ship is going to head for Spanish port Cadiz on Apt 24.

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Training ship (sailer) Simon Bolivar

Hull material – steel
Overall length – 82.4 meters (hull length – 70 meters)
Beam – 10.6 meters
Draft – 4.35 meters
Standard displacement – 1,260 tons
Sails area – 1,650 sq meters
Propulsion – General Motors diesel engine, 750 shp