Spanish minehunter joins NATO’s SNMCMG2

Spanish Navy minehunter ESPS Duero departed Cartagena, Spain to join the standing NATO mine countermeasures group two.

Duero and her crew are scheduled to spend over two months with the international group before heading home in April.

During this deployment in the Mediterranean and Black Seas, the ship will participate in the multinational exercise Poseidon and, on her way back to Spain, Duero will take part in exercise Ariadne in Greek waters.

In addition to taking part in the exercises, Duero will provide support to operation Sea Guardian, a new NATO mission intended to boost maritime domain awareness and the protection of the maritime environment against possible terrorist activities.

ESPS Duero is the fifth of overall six Segura-class minehunters. The GRP-hulled vessels are 55 meters long and have a complement of 42.