Kalmar Nyckel becomes official Tall Ship of Delaware
The floating ambassador for the state gets a new honor.
The Kalmar Nyckel ship, a historic and maritime symbol of Delaware, officially became the Tall Ship of Delaware on Friday.
Gov. Jack Markell bestows the title upon the vessel during a ceremony at the Kalmar Nyckel shipyard at 1124 E. Seventh St. in Wilmington. The governor will sign Senate Bill 205, legislation passed by the Delaware General Assembly earlier this year.
"The Kalmar Nyckel serves as Delaware’s seagoing ambassador both at home and at many ports of call, raising awareness of the First State for thousands who see her and come on board," the bill states.
Center features Kalmar Nyckel training deck, models, more
Center features Kalmar Nyckel training deck, models, more
The ship, at 141 feet long with a 25-foot beam, is a recreation of a Dutch-built armed merchant ship that brought Swedish settlers to America starting in 1638, according to the Riverfront Development Corporation of Delaware. It has traveled roughly 3,000 nautical miles this season, including tours of the Christina River.
Contact Christina Jedra at cjedra@delawareonline.com, (302) 324-2837 or on Twitter @ChristinaJedra.
