On February 20 the Spanish Armada Ship Cantabria arrived at her adopted Australian home, Fleet Base East, Sydney.
SPS Cantabria is a modern Auxiliary Oil Replenishment ship, which is capable of supplying fuel, food, stores and ammunition to ships underway.
During her deployment to Australia, Cantabria will participate in mutually beneficial training and exercises with Australian naval ships and helicopters. The deployment will culminate with Cantabria’s participation in the Australian International Fleet Review in October 2013.
Cantabria was built in 2007 and commissioned into service in the Spanish Armada in 2009. The deployment will allow the Spanish Armada to trial the ship’s full range of capabilities, including the operating/maintenance cycle of ships systems, and the logistics and maintenance support mechanisms for the ship.
Cantabria first arrived in Australia at the Port of Melbourne on 13 February 2013 after a 41 day passage from La Graña Naval Port, Spain.
[mappress] Naval Today Staff, February 21, 2013; Image: Australian Navy