Frigate ‘Canarias’ (F-86) returns to Rota after participating in Operation ‘Atalanta’.

Frigate ‘Canarias’ has just returned to Rota Naval Base (Cadiz), after completing her tour of duty in the operation led by the Naval Forces of the European Union (EUNAVFOR) ‘Atalanta’. The warship and her crew was welcomed by the Commandant General of the Spanish Marine Corps and current Commander of Operation ‘Atalanta’, Major General Antonio Planells Palau.

The F-86 has been part of the thirty-second rotation of Spanish Navy units in this Operation. She will now be relieved by her sister ship ‘Victoria’ that sailed from Rota last October 20.

Frigate ‘Canarias’ has participated in this operation with an SH-60B helicopter, a Security Team and a Special Naval Warfare Force squad with MIO tasks (Maritime Interdiction Operations) capable of operating in both cooperative and non-cooperative environments.

The F-86 is the sixth and last unit (‘Santa María’-class) of the 41 Escorts Squadron. The frigate has participated in many other deployments such as different integrations into NATO’s Standing Groups (SNMG-2), Operation ‘Enduring Freedom’ in the Indian Ocean, Operation ‘Active Endeavor’ and Operation ‘EUNAVFORMED-Sophia’ in the Mediterranean Sea, as well as several rotations in Operation ‘EUNAVFOR-Atalanta’.

In addition to deterring piracy and contributing to the free flow of commerce, Operation Atalanta’s mandate includes monitoring of fishing activity off the coast of Somalia, protecting vessels of the World Food Program (WFP) and African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and supporting other EU missions and international organizations working to strengthen maritime security and capacity in the region.

This EU-led operation began in 2008 at the request of Spain and France. Spain has currently assumed its command, exercised from the Spanish General Headquarters of the Operation (ES-OHQ), located in Rota Naval Base. Personnel from 19 nationalities work together in that HQ, underlining Spain's firm commitment to global security and defense, being so far the largest contributor to the operation.