Frigate ‘Navarra’ returns to her homeport after participating in Operation ‘Atalanta’.

The Spanish frigate ‘Navarra’, flagship of the counterpiracy operation ‘Atalanta’ in the Indian Ocean for nearly six months, has just returned to her home port in Rota Naval Base. This EUNAVFOR Operation fights piracy and helps maintain security in the Gulf of Aden and Somalia, protecting World Food Program ships and the UN mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

In the last 176 days, the warship has sailed more than 30,000 nautical miles in the Mediterranean and Red Seas, the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. A highlight of this deployment was the rescue of the hijacked Yemeni dhow ‘Al Azham’; the five pirates were arrested and handed to police authorities of the Seychelles.

The ‘Navarra’ has been relieved by her sister ship ‘Canarias’, underlining once again the commitment of Spain with this EU-led operation started in 2008 to warrant security in this troubled area.

Frigate ‘Navarra’ (F-85)

The ‘Navarra’ is the 5th ‘Santa María’-class frigate (41st Escort Squadron) delivered to the Spanish Navy in 1993. She is 138 meters long displacing 4,000 tons. Her sensors and weapons have turned this warship into an excellent unit tasked for escort and maritime security missions.

The F-85 is currently under command of Cdr. Eduardo Guitian. This has been the third time the ship has deployed in the Indian Ocean, and the first to operate as flagship of the Operation.