‘El Camino Español’ (A-07) Logistic Cargo Vessel

From its home port at the ‘La Curra’ pier in Cartagena Naval Base, the Commanding Officer and crew of the ‘El Camino Español’ welcome you to this website—a space where you can learn about our ship’s history, features, organization, and missions.

‘El Camino Español’ is not merely a vessel for logistic transport; it is a bridge connecting us to our units, our allies and, above all, to the service of Spain. We hope this visit brings you a little closer to the daily work of our crew and the commitment shared by all of us who are part of this great family.

Launching: 1997.
Commissioning: December 28, 2023.
Displacement: 12,400 tons (gross) – 3,600 (net).
Length: 154.5 meters.
Beam: 22,70 meters.
Draft: 6,95 metros.
Speed: 22 knots(max.).
Accommodation: 66.
Propulsion:

• 1 Wärtsila 16V46B diesel de 21.200 HP.
• 1 variable pitch propeller.
• 1 1 fore propeller for transversal thrust.

Generators:

• 2 auxiliary diesel generators.
• 1 aft generator.
• 1 emergency diesel generator.

Weapons: Portable weapons.
Sensors: 2 navigation and surface radars (X and S bands).
Cargo Capacity:

• 1,800-line meters along three decks..
• TEU 20 containers: 300 units on main open deck.
• Capability to transport a fully-equipped brigade.

Miscellaneous:

• A1+ designation for navigation in icy waters.

The main mission of ‘El Camino Español’ is the logistic support of Spanish Army units on the Iberian Peninsula, the Balearic and Canary Islands, and the North-African Spanish cities of Ceuta and Melilla, as well as the support to the different operations the Army regularly conducts abroad.

The ‘El Camino Español’ is equipped with sufficient portable arms to repel potential threats encountered at sea or during port entry and departure.

It has MG machine guns, as well as several small arms such as HK rifles and pistols.

The ‘El Camino Español’ is part of the Maritime Action Force stationed in Cartagena (SE Spain), the city where the vessel has been based since joining the Spanish Navy. However, due to its dimensions, it is specifically stationed at the ‘La Curra’ pier.

The vessel was ordered by the United Shipping Ltd. AB, based in Mariehamn (Finland), and built at the Santierul Naval shipyard in Galatz (Romania). Ordered on July 12, 1995, the first block of its keel was laid on March 14, 1996, and it was launched on August 22, 1997, under the name ‘United Carrier’. It was then towed to the Fosen Mekaniske Verksteder A/S shipyard in Rissa (Norway), where it underwent the scheduled sea trials.

It is the second in a series of four vessels; the remaining three were named ‘United Express’ (September 1997), ‘United Trader’ (May 1998), and ‘Trans-Botnia’ (January 1999).

Upon entering service, it operated for Transfennica on the Kemi-Oulu-Antwerp-London-Felixstowe route, and in January 2001, it began sailing under the Finnlines banner on the same itinerary. A year later, in January 2002, it switched to the Helsinki-Turku-Copenhagen route for Birka Cargo AB—another company based in Mariehamn—and was renamed ‘Birka Carrier’ in May of that year.

In July 2006, it arrived at a Spanish port for the first time as part of the Hangö-Kotka-Bilbao-Antwerp-Helsinki route. In April 2012, it entered service for Eckerö Shipping, and in June 2013, its name was shortened to ‘Carrier.’ It was sold to Finnlines in January 2015, though it remained under charter to Eckerö until January 2016, at which point it was renamed ‘Finncarrier.’ In July 2018, it was sold to Color Line with a scheduled delivery date of January 2019; following an upgrading process at the Landskrona shipyard, it was renamed ‘Color Carrier’ and assigned to the Oslo-Kiel route, where it operated until November 2022.

Since then—first in Oslo and later in Lindö—the vessel was put up for sale and subsequently sold in December 2022 to Cadena RoRo, a Luxembourg-based company managed by CLDN RoRo; initially retaining the Norwegian flag, it later switched to the Maltese flag and was renamed ‘Cadena 4.’ In January 2023, it entered service for Balearia on the Huelva-Canary Islands route, where it was operating when an agreement was signed in November to resell the vessel to the Spanish Ministry of Defense.

Under Ministerial Order 52/2023 of December 22, the Spanish Army’s logistic cargo vessel was christened ‘EL CAMINO ESPAÑOL’ with hull number ‘A-07.’ The chosen name—’El Camino Español’ (The Spanish Road) or ‘Camino de los Españoles’ (Road of the Spaniards), also known as the ‘Camino de los Tercios Españoles’ (Road of the Spanish Tercios) or the ‘Corredor Sardo’ (Sardinian Corridor)—refers to a land route established during the reign of Philip II to transport funds and troops to the war in the Low Countries. The bulk of the Army of Flanders moved along the ‘Camino Español’, accomplishing a logistic feat that was astonishing for its time.

By a resolution of the Chief of Staff of the Spanish Navy, the vessel was entered into the Official Navy Ship Register effective January 20, 2024.

Behind every voyage, every mission, and every mile sailed lies our greatest strength: the crew. Sixty-one men and women who share the same endeavors, the pride of serving in the Navy, and the privilege of being part of the history of ‘El Camino Español’. Our ranks comprise 8 officers, 11 petty officers, 10 leading corporals, 11 corporals, and 21 sailors.

‘El Camino Español’ is part of the Maritime Action Force (FAM in its Spanish initials). Within the Fleet, this Force consists of units whose primary mission is to protect national maritime interests and control maritime areas of national sovereignty and interest, thereby contributing to the activities carried out by different public authorities with responsibilities in the maritime domain.

The (A-07) ‘El Camino Español’ is the second logistic cargo vessel—alongside the (A-06) ‘Ysabel’— procured by the Army, and operated by the Spanish Navy, to provide sustainment and logistic support to its units stationed outside the Spanish mainland and for operational deployments, replacing the previous logistic ships: the ‘Martín Posadillo’ (A-04) and the former ‘Camino Español’ (A-05).

Since its commissioning, the ‘El Camino Español’ has participated in various national and international operations. Notable among these international missions are the support provided for the sustainment and rotation of Spanish contingents in Operation ‘Libre Hidalgo’ in Beirut (Lebanon) in June and November 2025, and Operation ‘Support to Turkey’ from Mersin (Turkey) in November 2025.

In addition to these international missions, the ‘El Camino Español’ has carried out domestic voyages transporting equipment needed to support Army exercises and maneuvers, as well as providing logistic support between the mainland, the Balearic and Canary archipelagos, and the Autonomous Cities of Ceuta and Melilla. During these transport operations, the unit also performed the standard duties associated with FAM units.