Brazilian Navy's training ship continues visiting St. Petersburg

12.08.2011 Brazilian Navy's training ship Brasil started annual cruise with naval cadets onboard on July 9. Prior to arrive at St. Petersburg, Brazilian mariners had visited Spanish and Dutch ports.

Protocol meeting between Leningrad Naval Base Acting Commander Capt 1 rank Valery Privalov and commanding officer of Brasil Capt Luis Coutinho was held in St. Petersburg on board cruiser Avrora.

Russian and Brazilian officers discussed program of the visit and exchanged naval souvenirs. The visit's program includes wreath-laying ceremony at Piskarevskoye Memorial Cemetery, visiting of museum cruiser Avrora, the Hermitage, the Russian Museum, and other showplaces of St. Petersburg.

At the press conference held on board training ship Brasil, the ship's CO Capt Luis Coutinho told to reporters that the long-range cruise of his ship was a final stage of training of Brazil's future naval officers; they practice navigation, meteorology, tactics, emergency actions, ship steering, and everyday activities.

"One of the purposes of this visit is to familiarize our midshipmen with culture and history of Russia. We also want to acquaint St. Petersburg locals with Brazil and show them training ship Brasil which is a small part of our country", said the ship's CO.

The Brasil training ship was opened for public since Aug 10 till Aug 12.

Training ship Brasil provides cadets of Brazilian Navy and civilian fleet with maritime navigational practice. The ship is equipped with radio-electronic facilities used for navigation and security. Brasil is capable to accommodate over 200 cadets.

This is the 25th training cruise of Brasil; the ship's route implies visiting of 22 foreign ports.