Spanish Warship Joins Maritime Piracy Fight
A Spanish warship ESPS Rayo will be deployed in the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden for the next six months. ESPS Rayo is part of Spain's contribution to the European Union's fight against piracy.
Spanish Navy warship, ESPS Rayo recently joined the EU Naval Force (EU Navfor) and will be deployed in the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden for the next six months. The warship is part of Spain’s contribution to the European Union’s (EU) fight against piracy in the Horn of Africa.
ESPS Rayo is a modern, multipurpose Oceanic Patrol Vessel (OPV), capable of accomplishing a wide range of operational tasks. Commissioned to the Spanish Navy in May 2012, the ship has a displacement of 2,500 tonnes, is 95m long and, for this counterpiracy mission, has a crew of 83 on board.
Following an intense period of operational sea training, ESPS Rayo departed from her home port of Las Palmas on November 17 last year, with an AB212 helicopter and a Marines Security Team.