Sailing ship Sedov is preparing to drop anchor in Dakar

Seemingly, more than one kilogram of paper was used to prepare required documents for arrival at port of Senegalese capital, joking on sailing ship, and this is not end... "The forms, the questionnaires, the declarations. Additional inquiries from local migration service and sanitary service, and on the eve of arrival we are receiving forms of inquiries", says Zorchenko. But it is justified, captain adds. Dakar is an area of border control. Restrictions are imposed here on crew of transit vessels. Such strict regime on entering and exit from the port was in Namibia. According to captain, it was possible to make an exception and to open board for visitors due to efforts of Russian Embassy with support of local authorities. "Namibian people were transported by buses from the control point of Walvis Bay's port to Sedov. What is interesting, in these complicated conditions 5000 people visited our barque", told Nikolai Zorchenko.
Open gangway is scheduled on second day of visit of Russian sailors to Dakar. On May 23 from 10 AM till 6 PM the barque will be opened for all who wish to visit vessel. Among cadets were chosen those who would be guides for guests wishing to get acquainted with Russia's history, and Sedov, the legend of sailing fleet which is known around the world.
The sailors hope on Anton Lomovsky to receive from him help in conversation with French-speaking population. This young French man has Russian origin, and he got Russian citizenship in order to be participant of the circumnavigation, and to have unique marine practice under the sails, which has not analogy in the world.
Meanwhile, excursion program hasn't been planned yet. If an issue on border regime will be solved successfully cadets will see Pink Lake, visit maritime museum, and ancient town located in the western point of Africa. Letters from the leadership of two local maritime schools were received also. In these letters Senegalese side proposed to organize meeting in order to exchange experience, and ensure friendly dialogue between Russian and Senegalese cadets.
Sedov will be met on day of arrival, on May 22, by Ambassador of the Russian Federation in Senegal Valery Nesterushkin, and the representative of Federal Agency for Fisheries in Senegal Alexander Biryukov. Sedov is also preparing for visit of local

authorities delegation. An excursion around the ship for VIP-guests will be arranged after official part. Reception for 150 guests will be held on upper deck in the evening on behalf of diplomatic mission and Federal Agency for Fisheries of the Russian Federation in Senegal. Invitations to take part in ceremonial event sent to Senegalese President Macky Sall, and Prime Minister Abdul Mbaye.
Dakar will become 25th port of circumnavigation, and last port on African continent. The ship will stay in the capital of Senegal for three days. On May 24 Sedov will head for Spanish islands, Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Movement of ship can be monitored online on Website of Monitoring Centre for Fisheries and Communication www.cfmc.ru/sedov.
The voyage is devoted to 1150th anniversary of Russian statehood and memorable dates in the history of Russian geographical discoveries. The legendary ship for the first time is sailing a voyage of such scale in 92 years of its history. Over 14 months the ship will cover almost 45000 nautical miles and visit more than 30 ports in Europe, Asia, Africa and America.

Photo made by Anatoly Vasiljev.

See photo gallery about visit to Dakar on
http://www.mstu.edu.ru/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=736

News about Sedov http://eng.mstu.edu.ru/sedov/news/
Video Clip http://youtu.be/YpkgGrYf4Po
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General Partner of SEDOV’s first Circumnavigation is NOVATEK, Russia’s largest independent natural gas producer.

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About SEDOV
The sailing training ship SEDOV (belonged to The Federal Agency for Fisheries of Russian Federation) is the world's largest sailing training ship. The length is 117.5 meters, displacement - 7320 tons, the number of crew members is 230. The sail area is 4192 square meters. It was built in 1921. The ship was launched at Krupp shipyard in Kiel (Germany), and originally was named after first owner’s daughter - Magdalena Vinnen

II. The ship was built for transportation of bulk goods between ports of Europe and South America, Australia, Southeast Asia and Oceania. In 1936 the owner of the ship was changed. Apartments were converted for 70 cadets and ship began to be used as cargo and training ship simultaneously. It was given a new name Kommondore Johnson. During the Second World War the barque had been sailing in the Baltic Sea under naval flag of Germany. After the war Kommodore Johnsen was transferred to Soviet Union as a part of reparation. In 1946 the flag of the USSR was raised, and with the new name – SEDOV – it was transferred to the class of training vessels. In 1991 SEDOV was handed over to the Murmansk State Technical University (MSTU). MSTU is an educational institution which is subordinated by Federal Agency for Fisheries of Russian Federation. The barque SEDOV is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s largest sailing training ship.