Charles E. Hawkins Squadron Texas Navy Association Galveston, Texas Sunday, March 12, 2023 Swedish training ship GUNILLA inducted into Texas Navy Hawkins Fleet Hawkins Fleet designation recognizes unique and historic vessels to visit Galveston On Sunday, March 12, representatives of the Charles E Hawkins Squadron of the Texas Navy Association presented a Hawkins Fleet designation to the visiting Swedish training ship GUNILLA. Presenting the certificate to GUNILLA’s Master, Captain Johannes de Lind van Wijngaarden, was Adm. Chester Barnes, Founder of the Hawkins Fleet, along with Adms. Donald Martin and Andy Hall of the Hawkins Squadron. Along with a framed certificate, the presentation included a reproduction of the ensign (national flag) flown by Texas Navy warships in 1836-39. The Hawkins Fleet designation officially authorizes the recipient vessel “to display the Ensign of the Republic of Texas whenever in the Republic’s territorial waters.” GUNILLA was launched in 1940 as a long-haul cargo ship, and continued to sail in that capacity until the 1990s. In 1997 GUNILLA was completely rebuilt as a sail training ship. From late August until May, GUNILLA sails the Atlantic with students from Öckerö Upper Secondary School on the island of Öckerö, near Gothenburg. In the summer, GUNILLA participates in tall ships races and other maritime events. The Hawkins Fleet is an honorary designation that recognizes historic or significant vessels that visit Galveston. Past recipient vessels include the U.S. Coast Guard Barque EAGLE (2022), the training ship KENNEDY (2021), the Spanish não SANTA MARIA (2021), and the Spanish ship EL GALEÓN (2017), a replica of a 16th-century merchantman. The Charles E. Hawkins Squadron in Galveston meets in odd-numbered months at Texas A&M University at Galveston. The Texas Navy Association is a private, 501(c)(3) educational organization, dedicated to preserving and promoting the historical legacy of the naval forces of the Republic of Texas, 1835-46. Membership in the Texas Navy Association is open to all persons aged 16 and over who have an interest in Texas history and want to help support the goals of the organization. For further information contact: Andy Hall, Hawkins Squadron Commander maritimetexas@gmail.com 409 771 7433 or Dick Martin, Hawkins Squadron Operations Officer martire01@gmail.com

Posted by Hawkins Squadron - TNA at 2023-03-15 19:04:16 UTC