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Rabat – Representatives from the Royal Moroccan Navy recently visited the naval shipyard in San Fernando, Cadiz, to inspect the progress of the Avante 1800 patrol vessel, which was commissioned in January 2021 from the Spanish company Navantia.
The military delegation was welcomed by Ricardo Dominguez Poch, the president of the Spanish public company overseeing the construction, La Voz De Cadiz, a Spanish outlet, reported.
The construction of the patrol vessel commenced in July 2023, with the contract involving approximately one million work hours. This is set to significantly contribute to employment in the region, aiming to generate 1,100 direct and indirect jobs..
During the visit, Inspector of the Royal Navy Mohamed Tahin, who led the military delegation, lauded the strategic relationship between Morocco and Spain according to the Spanish news source.
Navantia’s Avante 1800 model focuses on maintaining operability, maintainability, and reliability with a reduced crew for extended deployment periods in the Mediterranean.
Despite initial hurdles, such as diplomatic tensions between Spain and Morocco in 2021, the project progressed after a joint declaration on the Western Sahara conflict during Spanish President Pedro Sánchez’ visit to Morocco in April 2022.
In October of the same year, the Moroccan government approved a €95 million loan with Banco Santander S.A., secured on August 31, 2022, to finance the commercial contract between the National Defense Administration and Navantia S.A.
The patrol vessel measures 89 meters in length and can accommodate a crew of 46.
The original design includes a 76-millimeter cannon, missile launch system, modern sensors and radars, as well as a helipad.
The Avante family from Navantia covers various patrol vessels, including missile boats, hydrographic ships, coast guard vessels, and combat-ready patrol ships.
