The Navy patrol vessel 'Centinela' watches over a convoy of Russian ships in the waters of the Strait of Gibraltar (Cádiz)

CADIZ, March 18 (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Navy patrol vessel 'Centinela' (P-72), immersed in a maritime security operation in the waters of the Strait of Gibraltar and the Alboran Sea, has intercepted and followed a convoy of three Russian merchant ships escorted by the Russian frigate 'Admiral'. Grigorovich'.

In a note, the Navy has reported that the intervention occurred between March 10 and 16 and that the convoy in question, formed by the ships 'Sparta IV', 'Yaz', 'Ursa Major' and the Russian frigate mentioned above, was intercepted at the northern limit between Spanish and Algerian waters, where the 'Sentinel' was repositioned in close pursuit heading towards the Strait of Gibraltar.

After two days of transit, the Russian frigate ended the escort of the merchant ships at the doors of the Strait, where it reversed course again in demand of the eastern Mediterranean. For its part, the 'Centinela' continued with reinforced monitoring of the 'Admiral Grigorovich' until guaranteeing its departure from Spanish waters to the north of Algeria, where it set course again in demand of the Alboran Sea to continue with its mission of maritime surveillance and security.

With an approximate crew of 40 people, the high-altitude patrol vessel 'Centinela' is part of the Command of the Units of the Maritime Action Force of Ferrol (Galicia). Its main mission includes carrying out surveillance and maritime security operations in areas of sovereignty and national interest. Likewise, it is common to support other State agencies in the fight against illegal immigration, drug trafficking and other criminal activities.

The ship is prepared to carry out maritime interdiction operations - visit, search and, where appropriate, seizure of ships - and provide aid, rescue and assistance at sea if required.

The Maritime Action Force (FAM), integrated into the fleet, is made up of the set of units whose main task is to prepare to protect international maritime interests and the control of maritime spaces of sovereignty and national interest, being in charge, with a comprehensive approach, to ensure permanent cooperation with the various administration bodies with powers in the maritime field, which constitutes the contribution of the Navy to State Action at sea.

The Maritime Operational Command (MOM) is the organ of the operational structure of the Armed Forces, subordinate to the Chief of the Defense Staff (Jemad) responsible, at its level, for the planning, conduct and monitoring of permanent surveillance and security of maritime spaces of sovereignty, responsibility and national interest. It is under the command of the admiral of Acción Marítima (Almart) and is based in Cartagena.

Presence, surveillance and deterrence operations are an effective tool to maintain surveillance of spaces of sovereignty, which allows threats to be detected in advance and facilitate an immediate and viable response to a potential crisis. The Land Operational Commands (MOT), Maritime (MOM), Aerospace (MOA) and Cyberspace (MOC) make up the Permanent Command structure.

Daily, there are about 3,000 members of the Armed Forces involved in this type of operations under the operational control of the Operations Command.