The Diplomat
A Spanish Navy patrol boat, the P-72 Centinela, intercepted this past Tuesday two Russian warships sailing in the western Mediterranean to monitor their passage through the waters of the Strait of Gibraltar, according to the General Staff of Defense (EMAD).
“The offshore patrol vessel Centinela has intercepted and conducted tracking and monitoring of two Russian vessels, the frigate Admiral Kasatonov and the tanker Akademik Pashin, which are sailing in the western Mediterranean,” EMAD said in a press release. The two Russian vessels had been sailing for weeks from the Eastern Mediterranean.
The Centinela, currently integrated in the framework of the Permanent Operations of the Armed Forces, is carrying out surveillance and maritime security tasks in southern peninsular waters with the aim of maintaining presence and guaranteeing national interests in Spanish sovereign waters”, it added.
“Permanent surveillance and deterrence operations are an effective tool for maintaining surveillance of sovereignty spaces, which allows for early detection of threats and facilitates an immediate and viable response to a potential crisis,” the EMAD stressed. 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.
With a crew of 40 people, the offshore patrol vessel Centinela (P-72) is part of the Ferrol Maritime Action Force Units Command, under the Navy’s Maritime Action Force. The ship’s main mission is to carry out maritime surveillance and security operations in areas of sovereignty and national interest. Likewise, its support to other State agencies in the fight against illegal immigration, drug trafficking and other criminal activities is common. The vessel is prepared to carry out maritime interdiction operations (visit, search and, if necessary, seizure of vessels) and to provide aid, rescue and assistance at sea when required. The Centinela is commanded by Lieutenant Commander Alejandro Álvarez Brasa.
