The OPV ‘Centinela’ sets sail to ensure safety in the Alboran Sea

•  The vessel has a Marine Corps Security Operations Team on board to carry out these Presence, Surveillance and Deterrence Operations

From the Ferrol Naval Station, the Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) ‘Centinela’, under the command of Lieutenant Commander Jesús Ferrero Peiró, has set sail to carry out Presence, Surveillance and Deterrence Operations in waters under national sovereignty and of national interest. Until the end of July, the vessel will reinforce maritime security in the Strait of Gibraltar and the Alboran Sea.

Its mission is to enhance situational awareness of the maritime environment, maintain a presence and act as a deterrent, and be prepared to respond to any crisis situation. Furthermore, for this operation, the PA ‘Centinela’ has embarked a Marine Corps Security Operations Team to enhance its force protection and maritime interdiction capabilities.

The vessel is scheduled to call at the port of Motril (Granada) to carry out institutional activities. It is also scheduled to make logistical stops at the Rota Naval Base (Cádiz) and the port of Málaga. As planned, and following the conclusion of its deployment, the PA ‘Centinela’ will return to its base at the Ferrol Naval Station on 31 July.

Offshore Patrol Vessel ‘Centinela’

The ‘Centinela’ (P-72) is the second vessel in the series of Offshore Patrol Vessels that make up the Serviola class, under the command of ALMART (Admiral of Maritime Operations). It is based at the Ferrol Naval Station.

These vessels are designed to carry out maritime security missions. These include the protection of national maritime interests, the CONTROL of Spanish sovereign waters, missions to monitor and protect maritime traffic, and the fight against marine pollution. It also carries out missions in collaboration with the Military and Security Forces, such as operations to combat drug trafficking and other illegal activities at sea.

Maritime Operational Command and the OPVDs

The Maritime Operational Command (MOC) is a body within the operational structure of the Armed Forces, subordinate to the Chief of Defence (JEMAD), responsible, at its level, for the planning, conduct and monitoring of Presence, Surveillance and Deterrence Operations in maritime areas under Spanish sovereignty, responsibility and national interest. It is under the command of the Admiral of Maritime Operations (ALMART), Vice-Admiral Vicente Cuquerella Gamboa, and is headquartered in Cartagena.

As part of the MOC, various Navy Offshore Patrol Vessels carry out, under the operational control of the Operations Command, Presence, Surveillance and Deterrence Operations (OPVD), which serve as an effective tool for maintaining surveillance of areas of sovereignty and national interest. This enables a better understanding of the maritime environment, contributes to its comprehensive protection — alongside other state institutions — and also allows for the early detection of threats and facilitates an immediate and viable response to a potential crisis.

Alongside the MOC, the Land Operational Command (MOT), Air Operational Command (AOC), Space Operational Command (SPOC) and Cyberspace Operational Command (CYOC) make up the structure of the Permanent Commands. On a daily basis, some 850 military personnel from the Armed Forces are involved in permanent operations, which are conducted under the operational control of the Operations Command.