Frigate ‘Canarias’ to deploy in Operation ‘Atalanta’.

Frigate ‘Canarias’ (F-86) set sail on February 15th from Rota Naval Base to relieve her sister ship ‘Victoria’ in Souza (Greece) in operation ‘Atalanta’, a EU mission design to enhance maritime security in the Western Indian Ocean and deter pirate attacks in the Horn of Africa. In addition, the ship will contribute to control fishing activities off the coast of Somalia and to warrant the delivery of food and other essentials of the UN’s World Food Program.

Spain’s participation is framed within its commitment with the European Common Defense and Security Policy, thus contributing to international stability and security.

This is the fifth time the ‘Canarias’ participates in operation ‘Atalanta’. In the year 2009, the ship took part in the release operation of the Basque tuna trawler ‘Alakrana’, hijacked by Somali pirates during 47 days.

The ‘Canarias’ is currently under command of Cdr. Carlos Cordón. Her crew consists of more than 200 servicemen. In charge of security issues will be a Marine Corps squad. In addition, the ship has embarked a helicopter and an unmanned air vehicle for surveillance tasks, as well as a medical team.

In this deployment, and for the first time, the ship will operate specifically designed defense assets to counter the new unmanned air threats. 

The ‘Canarias’ is the most modern of the six ‘Santa María’-class frigates (FFG) from the 41st Escort Squadron, homeported in Rota (SW Spain). Despite her seniority, the ship boasts all her operational capabilities in perfect readiness. This class will be gradually replaced by the state-of-the-art F-110 frigates currently under construction.