Colombian Training Ship ARC Gloria Makes Rare Visit to Tenerife

The Colombian training ship ARC Gloria arrived in Santa Cruz de Tenerife on Tuesday, November 3, marking the final international stop of its current voyage before returning home to Cartagena. This is the first time the vessel has visited the Canary Islands in nearly a decade. The ship will be docked at the Dársena de Los Llanos until Friday, November 6, and is open to the public free of charge.

The 76-meter, three-masted barque has deep ties to Spain, having been built at the Celaya shipyards in Bilbao before entering service in October 1968. Beyond its role as a diplomatic representative for Colombia, the ship serves as a vital training ground for the Colombian Navy. On board are 67 cadets from the Almirante Padilla Naval Academy, who have been gaining hands-on experience in navigation and maritime maneuvers since setting sail on April 28.

The ship’s arrival was overseen by the Colombian Consul General in the Canary Islands, Juan Carlos Espinosa Escallón, and the Naval Commander of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, José María Fernández López. After waiting off the island’s north coast for a day, the ship docked with the assistance of Boluda Towage tugboats. This visit concludes a tour that included stops across Europe, notably a symbolic return to Bilbao, where the ship was constructed.

For the public, this is a rare chance to see a vessel that has successfully blended traditional sailing with modern military training for nearly 60 years. Once it departs Tenerife, the ARC Gloria will begin its final transatlantic crossing, aiming to reach its home port on December 1 and complete a mission that has spanned Africa, Europe, and the Americas.