ESPS Cantabria Arrives in South Australia

Spanish Armada ship ESPS Cantabria has berthed at Techport in Adelaide for an Easter port visit.

ESPS Cantabria is currently operating with the Royal Australian Navy whilst on deployment to Australia in 2013. Cantabria’s deployment to Australia is enhancing interoperability between the Spanish Armada and the Royal Australian Navy, demonstrating the capabilities of Cantabria to provide combat logistic support to Naval Task Groups and providing training to Royal Australian Navy personnel. Most recently Cantabria has been exercising with units from the Australian and New Zealand Navies.

Many of Cantabria’s systems are the same as the Royal Australian Navy’s new Canberra Class Landing Helicopter Dock ships and the Hobart Class Air Warfare Destroyers. Her deployment is providing Australian personnel an opportunity to familiarise themselves with the new systems before they crew the new ships.

Commanding Officer of ESPS Cantabria, Commander Jose Luis Nieto says the deployment is also mutually beneficial for the Armada.

“This deployment is a chance for the Spanish Armada to evaluate Cantabria’s full range of capabilities, including the operating maintenance cycle of ship systems, and ship logistics and maintenance support.”

“My ship’s company is looking forward to spending Easter in the City of Churches. It will provide us with an opportunity to have some time ashore after a busy couple of weeks exercising with the Australian and New Zealand ships,” said Commander Nieto.

Cantabria’s homeport whilst in Australia is Garden Island, Sydney which she will call home until November. Her deployment will culminate with the Australian International Fleet Review in October 2013.

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Naval Today Staff, March 26, 2013; Image: Australian Navy