Four-masted tall ship the Esmeralda is a national symbol of Chile but some say the navy should retire it from service

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

The appearance of a Chilean naval vessel in Sydney Harbour, which had been used as a “torture chamber” by the Pinochet regime, has sparked protests from Chilean-Australians who say it should be removed from service.

The Esmeralda, a four-masted tall ship that is nearly 400ft long, is in Sydney as part of its 61st training cruise and has been docked at Garden Island since Thursday morning.

Considered a national symbol of Chile, it is used as a sail training vessel by the country’s navy and spends about half the year sailing around the world. It was last in Sydney in 2012.

Revealed: Pinochet’s torture ship now flies the flag for Chile around the world Read more

But its tours have sparked controversy after a series of human rights reports revealed that the ship was used to detain victims of the Augusto Pinochet’s regime in September 1973.

A 1986 US Senate report suggesting that as many as 112 people – including 40 women – were held on the ship, with rape, electric shocks, mock executions and beatings among the crimes reportedly carried out on board.

A British-Chilean priest, Father Michael Woodward, who had been tortured on board, was taken off the vessel for treatment at a naval hospital but died of his injuries in transit.

In 2003 Amnesty International urged Chile’s government and navy to acknowledge serious human rights violations committed on the boat. In light of its bloody history, its continued use has prompted quayside protests around the world.

At the weekend the Esmeralda will be docked at the Sydney fleet base on Cowper Wharf Road in Woolloomooloo and open to the public for guided tours.

The Chile Solidarity Committee, a Sydney-based organisation of about 50 people, intends to protest against the vessel’s appearance on Saturday.

Regardless of what the present purpose of the ship is, crimes were committed there Vlaudin Vega, Chile Solidarity Committee

An organiser, Vlaudin Vega, said the Esmeralda had been used as a “torture chamber” in 1973 but the Chilean navy had never acknowledged that chapter in the ship’s history.

“We need to tell the world, the Australian people, that in this vessel crimes were committed and the navy needs to respond.”

More than 330 crew are onboard the ship. Vega suggested that, because of their age, many would be unaware of its history.

He said removing the ship from service would be a symbolic gesture that would help the Chilean community to “heal those wounds” of Pinochet’s regime, though that might require a “more radical government” in Chile.



“Regardless of what the present purpose of the ship is, crimes were committed there,” he said. “People got killed there.

“[The navy needs] to take into account what happened to the most prestigious ship that they have … There’s no question it’s a beautiful ship but they need to retire it as a symbol of some accountability.”

The Chilean-Australian Association, the consulate general of Chile in Sydney and the embassy of Chile in Australia – which have promoted the Esmeralda’s appearance in Sydney – have been contacted for comment.

The ship is due to depart on Monday afternoon and will return to Chile next month.

