The Gil Eannes was built by the Viana do Castelo Naval Shipyards, in 1955.
Between 1955 and 1973, Gil Eannes was the flagship of the Portuguese White Fleet that operated in the codfish fishing grounds of the Grand Banks of Newfoundland and Greenland.
As flagship, besides her main function as hospital ship, the Gil Eannes also served as maritime authority, mail ship, tug, ice breaker and general support ship for the Portuguese fishing vessels.
In 1963, the Gil Eannes started to operate as passenger and reefer shipduring the periods between the codfish fishing seasons. In 1973, the ship made the last trip to the seas of Newfoundland. In the same year, Gil Eannes was sent to Brazil in a diplomatic trip under the sponsorship of then Portuguese ambassador.
After the last trip in 1973, the ship lost its functions, staying moored and abandoned in the Port of Lisbon for many years. The ship was intended to be demolished for scrap.
In 1997, the historian, TV presenter and former ambassador to Brazil, José Hermano Saraiva launched in one of his history TV programs, a campaign to save the historical ship Gil Eannes from the intended demolition that was planned to occur a few days from then.
The Gil Eannes was able to be saved at the last minute and, in 1998, she was restored in the same Viana do Castelo shipyards where she was built, with the support of several institutions, private companies and citizens.
Part of the ship was transformed into a 60 bed youth hostel, the rest of the ship being restored according to its original features to be a museum ship.
And what a wonderful job they have done.
Signal flags.
The communications room.
Passenger's cabin.
Fabulously restored galley.
The bakery.
The massive engine room.
The sign said - Motor Principal 'Fairbanks Morse' TIPO 37F16, BHP 1400, RPM 300.
The principal function of the Gil Eannes was as a hospital ship.
Including dental.
Initial examination room.
Xray.
Disinfection. It is this and the other medical areas of the ship that have not yet been restored. The Foundation is seeking further grants.
Autoclave.
Operating theatre.
Slightly less crowded operating theatre.
Ultrasound.
Injured coming aboard in good conditions. If the weather was bad, they often had to put the injured into a small boat and winch the whole boat onto the deck.
The movement of cod in the Atlantic. The main fishing grounds were off Newfoundland and Greenland.
The prize - cod. Salted then dried and called bacalhau it is the national dish.
They are big fish, these cod.
Not easy work. The fleet was at sea for months at a time.
The fish had to be processed and stored on board.
Layer upon layer of salted fish.
Once home, the fish were air dried.
I thought you might like to see some photographs of a wonderful photographic exhibition that was on board the Gil Eannes. A current fishing boat working the Atlantic coast.
Line or pole caught fish. Sustainable fishing.
Bonito tuna.
Washing day.
The food chain.
Graceful.
Swim faster little one.
Congratulations to the Gil Eannes Foundation of Viana do Castelo.
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