VLADIVOSTOK, April 4 (RIA Novosti) – Russian naval cadets performing a tour around the world on board Russia’s barque Sedov will assist Mauritian authorities to deal with the aftermath of a flood, a spokeswoman for the Federal Agency for Fishery, said on Wednesday.
Sudden rains caused flooding in the Mauritian capital of Port Louis on March 31, killing at least 11 people. According to local meteorologists, a total of 152 millimeters (6 inches) of rain fell in less than an hour, disrupting traffic and causing chaos in the city with a population of about 140,000.
The Sedov’s captain, Nikolai Zorchenko, told local authorities that 150 naval cadets were ready to render any assistance upon their arrival to Mauritius.
“Local authorities responded that their assistance is needed and welcomed, but there is no need for urgent aid. It was decided that a group of 50 cadets will render assistance upon their arrival,” spokeswoman Lyubov Yolkina said.
The Sedov is currently 40 miles away from Mauritius and plans to enter port early on April 5. Mauritian President Kailash Purryag and Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam are to visit the ship during its stay.
The four-masted Sedov barque made the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s largest traditional sailing ship in operation. It is 117.5 meters (385.5 feet) long and has over 4,000 square meters (13,123 square feet) of sails.
Sedov sailed on its round-the-world tour from St.Petersburg on May 20, 2012. Its crew consists of 70 members and 170 Russian naval cadets. Sedov will finish its journey in St.Petersburg in July 2013. During its 14-month tour around the world, the ship is set to cover around 45,000 nautical miles.
The journey around the world marks the 1,150th anniversary of the Russian statehood and memorable dates in the history of Russian geographic discoveries.