Spanish naval vessel ports on Guam to retrace Magellan's voyage

In part of a 500-year-old voyage, the Spanish Navy frigate Mendez Nunez ported at Guam's U.S. Naval base on Sunday.

The ship is retracing Magellan-Elcano's circumnavigation of the world from 1519. The commanding officer, Commander Antonio Gonzalez Del Tanago de la Lastra said Guam is one of the many important ports to visit from Magellan's mission of sailing eastward from Spain to discover a sea route to the East Indies. De La Lastra said at the time they were able to survive and continue the trip because they found Guam and were able to re-supply.

Magellan was unable to complete this mission, during the exploration he was killed in the Battle of Mactan in 1521. Spanish explorer Juan Sebastian Elcano completed the voyage.