OPV ‘Audaz’ begins presence, surveillance and deterrence operation

• For more than two months, the ‘Audaz’ will reinforce maritime security in the Strait of Gibraltar and the Alboran Sea. The vessel will call at Melilla from 7 to 10 March.

From the Cartagena Naval Base, the offshore patrol vessel (OPV) ‘Audaz’ has set sail to carry out maritime surveillance in the maritime areas under national sovereignty in the waters of the Strait of Gibraltar and the Alboran Sea. This mission is carried out within the framework of the Armed Forces' Presence, Surveillance and Deterrence Operations. The vessel is integrated into the Maritime Operational Command (MOM) and under the operational control of the Commander of the Operations Command (MOPS).

During the mission, the 'Audaz' will carry out Maritime Security Operations (MSO), consisting of verification and control of maritime traffic to ensure freedom of navigation. It will also carry out naval presence operations in the vicinity of Alboran Island and in Spanish sovereign waters in North Africa.

The Vessel (OPV) has set sail from the Cartagena Naval Base to carry out maritime surveillance in the maritime areas under national sovereignty in the waters of the Strait of Gibraltar and the Alboran Sea. This mission is being carried out as part of the presence, surveillance and deterrence operations of the armed forces.

The ship is integrated into the Maritime Operational Command (MOM) and under the operational control of the Commander of the Operational Command (MOPS). For this operation, the 'Audaz' has embarked a Marine Operational Security Team to augment its force protection and maritime interdiction capabilities.

The ‘Audaz’ is scheduled to call at the ports of Melilla, from 7 to 10 March, where it will carry out different institutional activities and open days for citizens who wish to visit the ship. There will also be a logistical stop in Cartagena from 24 to 28 March and another in Malaga from 11 to 14 April. 

After completing its deployment, the OPV ‘Audaz’ is scheduled to return to the Cartagena Naval Base on 30 April.

OPV “Audaz”

The OPV ‘Audaz’ is one of the maritime action ships under the Command of the Maritime Action Force Units in Cartagena, based at the Cartagena Naval Base.

It is designed to carry out all types of missions, including the following: maritime security, protection of national maritime interests and control of areas of sovereignty and national interest, as well as missions in collaboration with State bodies and security forces  at sea, such as operations against drug trafficking or terrorism. They also carry out missions to control and protect maritime traffic, surveillance and control of fishing and to combat marine pollution.

Maritime Operational Cpmmand (MOM)

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

Presence, Surveillance and Deterrence Operations

Presence, Surveillance and Deterrence operations are an effective tool for monitoring sovereign space, enabling early detection of threats and facilitating an immediate and viable response to a potential crisis. 

The Land (MOT), Maritime (MOM), Air (MOA), Cyberspace (MOC) and Space (MOESPA) Operational Commands make up the Permanent Command structure. On a daily basis, there are some 3,000 Armed Forces personnel involved in these kinds of operations under the operational control of the Joint Operations Command.