Peruvian Navy tall ship spotted on Thames near Southend for first time
Peruvian Navy tall ship Bap Union has been visiting ports around the UK for the first time this summer, and was seen moored on the Thames Estuary near Mulberry Harbour on Saturday.
The vessel is primarily used for training naval cadets, but also plays the role of ambassador, promoting Peru during voyages around the world.
Camera club member Simon Murdoch hailed it a "rare sight" on the Thames near Southend.
Bap Union is the first sail training ship of the Peruvian Navy and was launched in 2015 after a three year building project that took place in Spain.
Its visit came as Nao Santa Maria, an authentic replica of Christopher Columbus' famous flagship from his 1492 voyage, was docked at Southend Pier last week welcoming visitors aboard for a tour of the iconic vessel.
Sadly, the decision was taken for the ship to leave Southend ahead of schedule on Saturday, prioritising the safety of both crew and visitors due to challenging weather conditions at the end of the pier.
The early departure disappointed many ticket holders who had planned to visit the historic ship during its stay in the city, however a spokesman insisted safety must always come first when dealing with maritime conditions.
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