The Spanish Navy commissions a new offshore patrol vessel.

The Spanish Navy has just commissioned a new offshore patrol vessel, the ‘Audaz’ (P-45). The delivery ceremony took place in San Fernando (SW Spain) and was presided over by the Defense State Secretary Ángel Olivares, the Chief of Staff of the Spanish Navy, Admiral Teodoro López Calderón, the CEO of NAVANTIA shipbuilders, Susana Sarriá, among other civilian and military authorities.

The ceremony consisted in a protocol inspection of the ship by a Spanish Navy commission which gave the go-ahead prior to the official acceptance. The ship’s first commanding officer, Lt-Cdr. Emilio Damiá took command and received the national flag. After a military parade before the attending authorities, the ceremony concluded with the crew embarking on the ship and hoisting the flag.

The ‘Audaz’ is the fifth ‘Meteoro’-class offshore patrol vessel, launched last March 30th.

Of totally indigenous design, these OPVs are excellent multi-purpose ships which have successfully integrated into many international task-groups deployed in the most demanding scenarios.