"Korea is far away. You brought Italy here, making us feel at home. Getting on board our Marceglia was a great emotion". These are the words of welcome and thanks addressed to Commander Alberto Bartolomeo and the crew by the Italian Ambassador to Seoul, Emilia Gatto, received on board together with representatives of the Rok Navy, a delegation of Korean parliamentarians and big names in the local naval industry.
The mooring port was Busan, a South Korean metropolis overlooking the Sea of Japan, which marked the beginning of the second phase of the operational projection campaign in the Indo-Pacific: on the horizon, 9 different countries and new exercises, as part of the activity of promoting Made in Italy abroad carried out by the frigate.
Before arriving, the Passex exercise with the South Korean Navy strengthened their respective operational capabilities and crew readiness: a joint training useful to optimize performance in international contexts.
Operational activities and institutional appointments: the agenda of the Marceglia she's busy with commitments.
“We sail to bring Italy to the world – declared the commander of the ship Marceglia, frigate captain Alberto Bartolomeo – those who come on board are moved with us. In the ports, we pay homage to the countries that welcome us, to their culture, to the places sacred to them. In the same way, the people we receive show enthusiasm for Italianness and deep respect for our values".
In Busan, the commander visited the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Korea, where more than 2300 United Nations soldiers who died during the Korean War (1950-1953) are buried. In 1951, Italy offered its support by sending a contingent of the Red Cross Military Corps to establish the field hospital No. 68: this commitment contributed to Italy's entry into the UN.
Il Marceglia he is already on his way, new ports await him.
