The Operational Logistic Support is an important requirement of the Spanish Navy, as is the basis of the power projection capability which permits sustained operations in far away scenarios. To a great extent, it provides one of the intrinsic characteristics of a naval force; namely logistic self-sufficiency.

The Combat Replenishment Ship “Cantabria” will be a 174 m long ship displacing 19,600 tons. Her speed will be 20 knots, and endurance of 6,000 miles at 13 knots. The “Cantabria” will be an environmentally respectful double hull ship (Green Ship), abiding all international conventions and laws in this respect.

Her five replenishment stations (one aft) will supply 8,000 cubic metres of fuel to ships and 1,500 cubic metres of fuel to aircraft, as well as ammunition, repair parts and food. The “Cantabria” can replenish three ships simultaneously.

The ship will have a flight deck with hangar for medium and heavy helicopters and a ten bed hospital with an operating theatre equipped with videoconference for telemedicine; X-ray room; dental service; sterile lab; consulting room and a gas centre.

The ship has also been designed for environmental defence operations and is adequately equipped to face risk situations such as ship accidents.

The state-of-the-art Combat System permits the ship to operate within a Naval Force. The Combat System is a Spanish R&D product.

The “Cantabria” will have an integrated and highly automated Platform Control System designed by NAVANTIA, thus reducing the size of the crew. Special care has been taken in relation to crew accommodation combining comfort and ergonomics. The crew will be 122 (50% can be female personnel).

The ship will be built at the NAVANTIA Shipyards in Puerto Real (Cádiz). There is a timeline of 42 months representing two and a half hours of direct work in the shipyards and as much again for suppliers and the auxiliary industry.