OPV ‘Rayo’ to integrate into Operation ‘Sophia’.

The offshore patrol vessel ‘Rayo’, left her homeport in Las Palmas (Canary Islands) on February 4th to integrate into Operation ‘Sophia’ in the central Mediterranean.

The farewell ceremony on the ship’s flight deck was presided over by the Commander of the Canary Islands Naval Command, Rear-admiral Juan L. Sobrino, and attended by many friends and family members of the crew.

The deployment of the ship is part of Spain’s commitment with the EU in support of this humanitarian mission intended to stop the illegal trafficking of people and prevent the loss of lives at sea. The ‘Rayo’ will relieve frigate ‘Reina Sofía’ in the port of Catania on February 15th.

The Spanish offshore patrol vessel has a complement of 58 people. It will be augmented in the scheduled port call at Rota Naval Base with intelligence analysts, an air crew with the corresponding support personnel, a security team made up of 11 marines and a helicopter from the aircraft flotilla.