The fleet replenishment ship ‘Cantabria’ has arrived this weekend at the Northern Australian city of Darwin. She is the first Spanish Navy warship to visit this city.
The ‘Cantabria’ has remained anchored in the vicinity of the port along with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) frigate ‘HMAS Parramatta’. The ‘Cantabria’ has already supplied fuel to the frigate at sea. Both ships are scheduled to carry out an intense exercise calendar during their transit back to Sydney.
The ‘Cantabria’ is fully integrated into the Royal Australian Navy and is providing logistic support to its units. During this cruise in the north of the Continent, and apart from ‘HMAS Parramatta’, the ship has also replenished the frigate ‘HMAS Sydney’.
The ship’s crew consists of 142 men and women under the command of Spanish Navy Commander José Luis Nieto. Two crew rotations are scheduled during the deployment in Australia.
As has already happened with other exercises and operations, several Australian military personnel have embarked to get acquainted with the ship and have integrated wonderfully in the daily routine of the ‘Cantabria’.