The offshore patrol vessel 'Infanta Cristina' begins a maritime surveillance mission in areas under national sovereignty

• The Navy vessel carries out one of the permanent missions of the Armed Forces

The offshore patrol vessel 'Infanta Cristina' has set sail to carry out surveillance and security operations in the maritime areas under national sovereignty, as part of the presence, surveillance and dissuasion operations of the Armed Forces.

Navigation is under the Maritime Operational Command (MOM), subject to the operational control of the Maritime Operations Command (MOPS).

The ship set sail with a crew of 66 people plus 7 marines from the Operational Security Team belonging to the Tercio de Levante (TERLEV).

Currently its main mission is to carry out presence, surveillance and deterrence operations in areas under national sovereignty. It also collaborates with and supports other public bodies in the control of maritime traffic, in the monitoring of fishery activities and in the search and rescue of victims of shipwrecks.

About the offshore patrol vessel "Infanta Cristina"

Built as the fourth corvette of the "Descubierta" class by “Empresa Nacional Bazan” in Cartagena, it was delivered to the Navy on November 24, 1980. The National Flag was hoisted on board for the first time by Princess Cristina de Borbon.

Between September 2004 and June 2005, it was redesigned as an offshore patrol vessel.  It is currently based in Cartagena.

Maritime Action Force (FAM)

The FAM, integrated in the Fleet, is formed by the set of units whose main task is to be prepared 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.

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 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) constitute 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.