Offshore patrol vessel 'Infanta Cristina' starts maritime surveillance mission

• The Navy vessel will carry out a surveillance and security patrol in maritime areas under national sovereignty

The offshore patrol vessel 'Infanta Cristina' (P-77) starts next April 8 a maritime surveillance mission, framed within the permanent operations carried out by the Armed Forces. Its mission includes maritime surveillance tasks in order to contribute to guarantee the security of the maritime areas of national interest within the framework of the Permanent Operations of the Armed Forces, integrated in the Maritime Operational Command (MOM) and under the operational control of the Operations Command (MOPS).

The ship sets sail with a crew of 73 people plus 7 marines of an Operational Security Team (EOS), belonging to the Tercio de Levante (TERLEV) of the Marines, and is scheduled to call at the port of Ceuta, where it will hold an open day and can be visited by the public.

Maritime Operational Command (MOM)

The Maritime Operational Command (MOM) is the body of the operational structure of the Armed Forces, subordinate to the Chief of Defence Staff (JEMAD) responsible, at his level, for planning, conducting and monitoring the permanent operations of surveillance and security of maritime areas of sovereignty, responsibility and national interest. It is under the command of the Admiral of Maritime Action (ALMART) and is headquartered in Cartagena.

Permanent surveillance and deterrence operations.

The Permanent Surveillance and Deterrence Operations are an effective tool to maintain surveillance of the sovereignty spaces, which allows early detection of threats and facilitates an immediate and viable response to a potential crisis.

The Land Operational Commands (MOT), Maritime (MOM), Aerospace (MOA) and the recently created Cyberspace (MOC) make up the Permanent Command structure. On a daily basis, there are about 3,000 Armed Forces personnel involved in permanent operations, under the operational control of the Operations Command.

Maritime Action Force (FAM)

The FAM, integrated in the Fleet, is formed by the set of units whose main task is to prepare to protect the international maritime interests and the control of the maritime spaces of sovereignty and national interest, being in charge, with an integral approach, of ensuring the permanent cooperation with the different Administration agencies with competences in the maritime field, which constitutes the contribution of the Navy to the State Action at Sea.

Patrol ship 'Infanta Cristina'.

Built as the fourth corvette of the "Descubierta" class by Empresa Nacional Bazán in Cartagena, it was delivered to the Navy on November 24, 1980, and the National Flag was hoisted on board for the first time by H.R.H. the Infanta Doña Cristina.

Between September 2004 and June 2005, it was converted to a deep-sea patrol boat (P-77). It is currently based in Cartagena.

Its main mission at present is to carry out surveillance and maritime security operations in the areas of national sovereignty. It also collaborates and supports other public agencies in maritime traffic control, fishing surveillance and search and rescue of shipwrecked persons.