The Canarias frigate joins Operation Sophia
(B2) The Frigate"Canary Islands" of the Spanish Armada left the naval base of Rota, Wednesday January 18, to join the EUNAVFOR Med / Sophia operation to fight against human and arms trafficking in the Mediterranean off the coast of Libya. His mission will last six months. She takes over from the frigate Navarra.
In 2015, this F-80 type frigate was the first Spanish frigate to take part in the European mission (read: What are the means of Operation Sophia (EUNAVFOR Med) in its phase 2?). The Spaniards had then saved 1122 people and helped to arrest several traffickers (read: Saving migrants but also collecting evidence)
The Canarias frigate is a 'Santa María' class frigate, with a crew of 220. It has a helicopter on board, an AB-212. With a length of 138 meters and weighing more than 4000 tons, it is equipped with " sensors and weapons that will allow it to carry out its main functions “surveillance but also escort, according to the Spanish navy.
(Leonor Hubaut)
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