Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez authorized the Navy Commander Vice-admiral Benigno Remigio Calvo to enter into a $261m trade agreement with Spanish firm Rodman Polyships for joint construction of 66 boats and purchase of construction material for other 40 units to be manufactured in Venezuela, reports said. The second stage of this project is expected to be implemented in the Navy Unit of Careen Services. According to the Official Gazette dated June 11, the operation is taking place under a strategic alliance entered into on October 16, 2005 in Vigo, Spain. However, in April 2006, Navy Commander Vice-admiral Armando Laguna Laguna told reporters they would purchase a lower number of boats.