Spanish Navy to acquire new multipurpose vessel for Fleet modernization.

According to information published by La Razon on September 12, 2024, the Spanish Navy has secured a €24 million investment for a new multipurpose vessel, marking a key step in its fleet renewal strategy.
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Multipurpose ship Carnota. (Picture source: Spanish Navy)

The new ship, equipped with ocean-going towing capabilities, will be the second of the Carnota class, named after its predecessor, which was acquired for €15 million and built by the Spanish shipyard Zamakona Yard. The original Carnota, built in 2014, served in the North Sea as an offshore platform support vessel before being repurposed for the Navy.

This latest acquisition is part of a broader initiative to modernize the Navy's auxiliary fleet. Approved by the government this week, the contract reflects the Navy’s commitment to enhancing its transport, logistical support, towing, and salvage operations, all critical to national defense missions such as presence, surveillance, and deterrence, as well as its support role for other state administrations.

While the Navy may opt for another second-hand vessel like the Carnota, the contract's value leaves open the possibility of commissioning a newly built ship. Notably, in 2014, the Norwegian company Atlantic paid Zamakona Yard €24 million to construct the Carnota (formerly Ocean Osprey), matching the current budget allocated for this new project.

This vessel acquisition aligns with a broader modernization effort that includes the recent addition of the transport ship El Camino Español, set to begin operations this year, and two coastal patrol boats, Isla de León and Isla Pinto, stationed in Ceuta and Melilla. The Navy has also brought into service new training boats for its Naval Academy, four harbor tugs to support its arsenals, and two of three pusher tugs that will assist the new S-80 submarines.

A-61 Carnota

The ship has a length of 66.8 meters, a beam of 16 meters, and a displacement of 2,284 tons. Its propulsion system consists of two MAN engines, each generating 1930 kW of power. The Carnota is equipped for heavy towing operations, with a pulling capacity of 65 tons, and has space to accommodate up to 300 people in rescue scenarios.