Simon Bolivar School Ship arrives in Maracaibo to accompany parties in honor of La Chinita

Published at: 17/11/2025 12:44 PM

The Simón Bolívar School Ship docked on the shores of Lake Maracaibo to accompany the marabinos, with its crew made up of cadets from the Military Academy of the Bolivarian Navy and officers, to the festivities in honor of the Virgin of Chiquinquirá, who this year celebrates 316 years of miraculous renewal and 83 years since her coronation.

From Monday 17th until next Thursday 18th, the School Ship will be open for all Zulians to visit, from 9:00 in the morning to 6:00 in the afternoon, on the Maracaibo Malecón, integrating the community into the naval tradition. The flagship of the Bolivarian Navy just completed its XXXV overseas training cruise “Caribbean Integration 2025”.

The Ambassador Without Borders was received by the general commander of the Bolivarian Navy, Admiral Ashraf Hadi Suleiman Gutiérrez, together with Governor Luis Caldera, the mayor of Maracaibo Giancarlo Di Martino, military chiefs stationed in the entity, headed by the commander of the RedI-Occidente, M/G Pedro González and the commander of the ZODI-Zulia, G/D Javier Magallanes and other regional authorities.

As reported by the Venezuelan News Agency (AVN), Admiral Suleiman Gutiérrez stated that the ship is “a symbol of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) and a diplomatic message of brotherhood between peoples.”

He recalled that it was in the waters of Lake Maracaibo that patriotic naval forces expelled the last stronghold of the Spanish army two centuries ago and today they are in the framework of the celebration of the 316th anniversary of the appearance of the patron saint of Zulia, bringing a message of friendship and solidarity from the Fanb.

Governor Caldera highlighted the honor of receiving Ambassador Without Borders, led by C/N. Ronald José Briceño, together with the crew “who have been looking at the horizon of western Venezuela to get very close to the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Chiquinquirá”.

“At a time when we are threatened in the Caribbean, we ratify our commitment to sovereignty, peace, integrity, but above all to defend the history of this beautiful state,” emphasized the governor.

Mazo News Team