Patrol Vessel ‘Isla Pinto’ Conducts Maritime Surveillance Tasks in Nationally Interest Waters

•  As part of the Presence, Surveillance and Deterrence Operations, the Patrol Vessel carries out verification and control of maritime traffic in its area of operations.

The ‘Isla Pinto’ Zone Surveillance Patrol Vessel (P-84), based in the autonomous city of Melilla, is currently conducting a maritime surveillance mission, naval presence, and control of areas of national interest aimed at ensuring the security of our territorial waters.

Among her primary tasks, ‘Isla Pinto’ performs activities related to the verification and control of maritime traffic, as well as overseeing fishing activities within her assigned area of navigation. In this way, she contributes with her specific capabilities to the PSDO, which are carried out continuously across the terrestrial, maritime, air, cybersecurity, and space domains, through their respective operational commands.

This mission is conducted under the framework of the Presence, Surveillance and Deterrence Operations of the Armed Forces, with the vessel integrated into the Maritime Operational Command and under the operational control of the Commander of the Operations Command.

‘Isla Pinto’ Patrol Vessel (P-84)

The ‘Isla Pinto’ Zone Surveillance Patrol Vessel ( OPV) is a ship of the Maritime Action Force, named after the artificial island of the same name, which is located within the Mahon Naval Station. This patrol vessel belongs to the ‘Toralla’ class, alongside the patrol vessels ‘Toralla’ (P-81) and ‘Formentor’ (P-82), based in Cartagena, and the ‘Isla de León’ (P-83), based in Ceuta.

The ‘Isla Pinto’ is part of the Maritime Action Force Units Command in Cartagena (COMARCART), and is based in the autonomous city of Melilla. Her main mission is to carry out permanent surveillance and maritime security operations in the territorial waters of Melilla and the Alboran Sea, as well as in the Spanish islets and possessions in North Africa, ensuring the enforcement of national and international maritime laws and agreements.

Maritime Operational Command (MOM)

The Maritime Operational Command is part of the Armed Forces’ operational structure, subordinate to the Chief of Defence Staff (JEMAD), responsible for planning, conducting, and monitoring Presence, Surveillance and Deterrence Operations in maritime spaces of sovereignty, responsibility, and national interest. It is commanded by the Admiral of Maritime Action and is based in Cartagena.

Presence, Surveillance and Deterrence Operations

Presence, Surveillance and Deterrence Operations (PSDO) are an effective tool for maintaining oversight of sovereign spaces, enabling the early detection of threats and facilitating a swift and viable response in the event of a potential crisis.

The Operational Commands (OC) for Land (MOT), Maritime (MOM), Air (MOA), Space (MOESPA), and Cyberspace (MOC) form the Permanent Command structure. On a daily basis, approximately 3,000 personnel from the Armed Forces are involved in permanent operations, under the operational control of the Operations Command.