Columbus ship replicas pass through Morgan City en route to Houma

While on their way to Houma for a 10-day stay, replicas of the Pinta and Nina docked in Morgan City overnight Monday.
Gus Kodros, first mate of the Nina, said the caravels are on the last leg of their weeklong journey to Houma from Muskogee, Oklahoma, via the Arkansas and Mississippi rivers.
The Pinta started touring with the Nina in 2009, but the Nina has been touring for 23 years, Kodros said. Both are caravels, small-to-medium sized ships built as shoreline trading vessels for the Mediterranean Sea.
“One day they decided to use them to cross the Atlantic Ocean. Many explorers in the Age of Discovery used them to do that. It’s a versatile, handy design. They’re fast, built for speed, really. They carry a smaller cargo load but get to their destination quicker,” Kodros said.
There were 24 men on the Nina and 26 in the Pinta for Columbus’ most famous voyage. The Nina did three of four of Columbus’ voyages and roughly carried a crew of 30 each time, Kodros said.
The replica ships tour 10 to 11 months each year on “America’s Great Loop,” the Gulf of Mexico, East coast, Great Lakes and some river systems.
The stop in Houma is the last for the year, with the ships going into dry dock for maintenance, Kodros said.
The ships travel the country to educate on the Age of Discovery, “what these men endured crossing the Atlantic Ocean and how a caravel — this type of ship — really works and the different parts of the ship,” Kodros said.
All the steering is done with a tiller. The wheel was not introduced until the 1700s.
“The Nina is the exact size. It’s considered the most historically accurate representation of a caravel on the planet, right down to her construction. We used the same tools they used 500 years ago. No electricity was used in the construction.”
Kodros said there are a few differences between the ships Columbus sailed and the modern replicas.
“There is auxiliary power. Where Columbus could meander, we have a schedule to keep and to get up the rivers, through the locks and dams, and things like that, sailing isn’t an option. We do sail them when we can. Open water scenarios are definitely more opportune,” Kodros said.
The ships are expected to arrive in Houma around 3 p.m. today. They will dock at the Downtown Marina on Park Avenue, across from Terrebonne General Medical Center where they will remain until their departure the morning of Dec. 8.
While in port, the general public is invited to visit the ships for a walk-aboard, self-guided tour. Prices are $8 for adults, $7 for senior citizens and $6 for students ages five to 16. Children ages four and under are free.
The ships are open every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with no reservations necessary to attend.
Teachers or groups wishing to schedule a 30-minute guided tour with a crew member should call the ship directly at 1-787-672-2152 or visit the website www.thenina.com, click on take a tour and fill in the online form. The group minimum is 15 with no maximum. All groups are charged $5 per person regardless of age.