Mollie Verret Verdin
January 17, 2007
Pre-schoolers heading to Terrebonne libraries’ Reading WELL
January 19, 2007
Traffic came to a near halt on Park Avenue Thursday afternoon as a replica of the Nina docked at Terrebonne Parish’s Downtown Marina in Houma.
Prior to its opening Friday for public tours, the replica of Christopher Columbus’ famous ship was inspected by the U.S. Coast Guard as curious residents watched.
The vessel passed with flying colors, according to Lt. Junior Grade Paul Steiner, of the U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Division based in Houma. He said the main focus was to ensure that the vessel was free of slip hazards and hazardous materials that could hurt tourists.
“We checked their fire fighting and life saving equipment and made sure that they had the proper equipment here at this port for getting in touch with the fire department and police department,” Steiner said.
Thursday’s inspection wasn’t the first for the vessel, said Nina captain Kyle Fraiuf. In fact, the boat was inspected two days earlier when it docked in Mobile, Ala.
Built completely by hand in Bahia, Brazil by the Columbus Foundation, the ship has been called the “the most historically correct Columbus replica ever built” by Archaeology magazine.
The Nina has been traveling around the world since 1992, educating people young and old on the ‘caravel’ n the type of Portuguese ship used by Columbus and other early explorers. Just before its global tour, filmmakers used the ship in making “1492,” a film depicting the travels of Columbus and his crew.
Tri-parish residents will have a chance to tour the ship daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. until the Nina’s Jan. 29 departure date. Group and school tours are guided by crewmembers, describing the secrets of the shipbuilding process and explaining why many early-day explores chose to sail similar types of vessels.
Tickets are $5 for adults, $4 for senior citizens, and $3 for children.
Although Thursday’s drizzly weather kept many away from the marina as the Nina arrived, Friauf said he is hopeful that Tri-parish residents will visit the Nina while she’s in port. The vessel, which is owned by the Columbus Foundation, will be in town through Jan. 29.
“This is not something you see everyday. It’s a unique opportunity to come and see a 15th Century Spanish caravel. I am very proud to be the captain of this ship,” he said.
Visit www.thenina.com or call (787) 421-0402 for additional information.
Sophia Ruffin can be reached at sophia@tri-parishtimes.com.
