Colombia celebrated the reopening of its embassy in Thailand on Monday by sending an historic navel ship the ARC Gloria to visit the country.
According to US paper The Nation, this is the first Colombian visit to Thailand in 58 years. The last time was in 1955 when a frigate – the ARC Almirante Padilla – berthed there.
The ceremony was overseen by the Colombian ambassador to Thailand, Andelfo Garcia, and the Minister for Plenipotentiary, Leonardo Carvajal. They were also accompanied by a delegation of Colombian nationals who were “eager” to welcome part of their birth nation to Thailand.
The ARC Gloria will sail from Bangkok on Wednesday and continue on towards Hong Kong. This is the fifth longest voyage undertaken by the Gloria, sailing 23,809 nautical miles over a period of 218 days.
To mark the special occasion, the crew is comprised of twenty-two officers with five representatives from the army, air force and police. There are an additional five foreign officers from Ecuador, Mexico, Chile and Peru, as well as ten marines and a military priest.
While anchored in Thailand, the historic ship will open its doors to the public so that the people of Bangkok can discover the historic sailing and naval traditions of Colombia.