One of the tall ships visiting Boston for MA250 shares a cultural history with New Bedford. For the first time since 2015, NRP (Navio da República Portuguesa, ship of the Portuguese Republic) Sagres will enter New Bedford’s harbor and spend five days with the community.
Sagres arrives in New Bedford on Sunday, July 19, at 10 a.m. and will dock at the Marine Commerce Terminal. New Bedford’s authentic Azorean Whaleboats and the Schooner Ernestina-Morrissey will escort the tall ship into the harbor. The Azorean Maritime Heritage Society stewards New Bedford’s whaleboats. These are three of the only sixty-three authentic Azorean Whaleboats in the world. Furthermore, they are the only three in the United States. The Schooner Ernestina-Morrissey is a gift of the Republic of Cabo Verde, a National Historical Landmark, and the official vessel of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
An arrival ceremony will greet Sagres at the terminal berth, during which the Grupo Folkloric do Clube Madeirense S. S. Sacramento will perform. Afterwards, the ship invites the public aboard for tours from 4 to 8 PM. Monday, July 20, tours will be offered from 10 AM to 2 PM. On Tuesday, July 21, the ship is open to visitors from 10 AM to 8 PM. Wednesday, July 22, the ship will offer tours from 10 AM to 5 PM.
The New Bedford Whaling Museum and Azorean Maritime Heritage Society are co-presenting a special program at the museum on July 21. António Manuel Maurício Camilo, Lieutenant Commander of Sagres, will give a presentation on the ship’s history, its voyages over the years, and its role as a cultural ambassador for Portugal. Following his talk, Francisco António Duarte Lopes, Ambassador of Portugal, will deliver remarks on the momentous occasion of Sagres’s visit to New Bedford. Purchase your tickets for the event at the museum today.
Don’t miss this historic visitation and, specifically, the ceremonial arrival on July 19 and departure on July 23, both scheduled for 10 AM.
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