The fleet replenishment ship ‘Cantabria’ arrives at her new home base in Sydney

48 days after her departure from La Graña Naval Station in Ferrol, the fleet replenishment ship ‘Cantabria’ arrived at Garden Island Naval Base in Sydney, her new home base during her scheduled deployment in Australia until the end of November.

The Spanish Navy ship was welcomed by the RAN Fleet Commander, Rear-Admiral Tim Barret and the Commander of the RAN Surface Force, Commodore J.D. Mead.

During the welcoming ceremony, the ship’s complement greeted a RAN Delegation and representatives from the Spanish community in Australia.

First replenishment at sea of a RAN warship

During the transit from Melbourne to Sydney, the Spanish ship carried out her first replenishment at sea with a Royal Australian Navy frigate, ‘HMAS Newcastle’. The ‘Cantabria’ supplied 30,000 liters of fuel.

The right coordination between both ships permitted a smooth replenishment maneuver within the scheduled time frame. It was the first milestone of the ‘Cantabria’ integration into the Royal Australian Navy.