SPAIN

Daniel GIB · Post by **Daniel GIB** » Sun Jul 25, 2010 10:22 am

Spanish Guardia Civil patrol launch RIO PISUERGA A 03 close to Gibraltar on the 14th July.

Daniel

Daniel GIB · Post by **Daniel GIB** » Wed Jul 28, 2010 10:05 pm

SPS IZARO P 27 - seen at Malaga on the 17th July.

Daniel

Daniel GIB · Post by **Daniel GIB** » Sat Aug 07, 2010 11:41 pm

Guardia civil launch RIO CERVANTES A 14........

....and Guardia Civil launch RIO ALFAMBRA M 28 in Palma on the 22nd July.

Daniel

Daniel GIB · Post by **Daniel GIB** » Sat Aug 07, 2010 11:43 pm

OMEGA DOS in Palma on the 22nd July. This craft and another larger one called OMEGA UNO are based in Palma and act as royal escorts to the royal yacht or any of the vessels that the spanish royal family wish to board when they have their anual holiday on the island.

Daniel

Daniel GIB · Post by **Daniel GIB** » Mon Aug 09, 2010 4:19 pm

Patrol vessel IZARO P 27 arriving back at her base in Malaga on the 24th july.

Daniel

Daniel GIB · Post by **Daniel GIB** » Fri Nov 12, 2010 5:30 pm

Spanish Guardia Civil launch RIO CEDENA off Gibraltar on the 8th November.

davidships · Post by **davidships** » Tue Dec 07, 2010 11:19 pm

Spanish Guardia Civil patrol boat L-09 at Huelva 10/9/2010

davidships · Post by **davidships** » Tue Dec 07, 2010 11:28 pm

Spanish naval tug LA GRAÑA at Cadiz on 10/9/2010, alongside TURIA (M 34)

Daniel GIB · Post by **Daniel GIB** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 9:25 pm

Guardia CIvil launch M12 in the strait on the 13th December.

Daniel GIB · Post by **Daniel GIB** » Fri Jan 07, 2011 9:01 am

Guardia Civil launch RIO TORMES M42 towing a RHiB seen in the bay on the 3rd January.

davidships · Post by **davidships** » Sun Jan 23, 2011 10:33 pm

The Spanish Navy contingent at Las Palmas all securely tied up over the New Year week.

Centinela P72

Cazadora P78 + Vencedora P79

davidships · Post by **davidships** » Sun Jan 23, 2011 10:47 pm

Some more from a lazy Las Palmas New Year.

Grosa P25

Tagomago P22 + Medas P26

Y 556 - presumably naval pilot tender

and a couple of tugs on the Tugs forum

davidships · Post by **davidships** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 12:31 am

Last of the grey ones from Las Palmas at New Year.

Y 424 - looks like a fuel barge - built 1990 - 2 x Schottel propulsion

Y 584 - patrol boat ex-YBZ 84 - built 1986 (and very distant)

davidships · Post by **davidships** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 12:52 am

Guardia Civil at Las Palmas

RIO MINO. IMO 8410471. Assume taken over in 2007 as an arrested or abandoned fishing vessel and converted to patrol vessel
ex-AMAZONAS REEFER ex-DAIAN MARU No.28 ex-TENSHO MARU No.28
605gt 181nt 44.61/50.81 x 8.60 x 3.66m
blt 1984 KK Kanasashi Zosen, Shizuoka (Yd 3040)
M6cy 4SA 736kW 1001bhp 12kn 1scr Niigata 6M28AFTE

This launch with no identifying number/name that I could see.

davidships · Post by **davidships** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 1:10 am

And the Customs (Agencia Estatal de Administracion Tributaria) are at Las Palmas also, of course.

PETREL I - IMO 7385007
1714gt 515nt 52.0/60.6 x 12.0 x 7.4m
blt 1993 (launched 1978) Arsenal do Alfeite, Almada, Portugal (Yd 108)
2 x M6cy 4SA 2574kW 3500bhp 14kn 2scr MWM TBD500-6
launched as stern trawler BAIA but completed as patrol vessel PETREL I

SACRE

Daniel GIB · Post by **Daniel GIB** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 3:45 pm

Tugster, ADUANAS does mean Customs and the launch you took is the ARAO. As for the Rio Mino (her name is RIO MIÑO) , she was onverted for use round the Canary Island which is a hot spot for illegal immigration and smuggling. The larger craft means that she can patrol a wider area. A new patrol vessel of similar size is being built.

David, the Y584 is a personnel / harbour launch based on the US LCPL launches. Y556 is definetly a pilot launch.

Daniel

Francis GIB · Post by **Francis GIB** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 9:18 pm

...and a little bit more... ADUANAS is the common name to denote Customs, but they also use the initials SVA which mean Servicio de Vigilancia Aduanera, in other words, Customs Surveillance. They come under the Minister for the Economy and Finance and represent the Spanish Royal Treasury in the tasks they carry out against fiscal fraud, contraband etc., thus the two "H" on the flag with two Crowns on top:

Crest:

The land-based element tend work in civvy clothes and are not easily recognisable unless they are in one of their vehicles, and even then these tend to be unmarked. What the public generally sees are the launches and the air support. There are unconfirmed rumours that when at sea, they appear to be in "competition" with the Maritime element of the Guardia Civil when "joint" chases of smuggling craft are carried out. Obviously what is meant here are coastal chases as the GC does not have jurisdiction at the limits of Spanish Territorial Waters and beyond in International Waters. Besides, the latter do not have sea going vessels like the SVA. The SVA launches are all painted a dark blue with a light blue sash with the crest superimposed.

Daniel GIB · Post by **Daniel GIB** » Tue Jan 25, 2011 4:27 pm

davidships wrote:Guardia Civil at Las Palmas

This launch with no identifying number/name that I could see.

unknown GC 1 - 1x.JPG

David, this launch is one of two launches paid for by the department of fisheries, agriculture etc of the Government of the Canary Is for the Guardia Civil. They were built in 1999 and are known as the Rodman 55HJ Canarias. The two ships are TINECHEYDE M 15 (EB4712) and ALMIRANTE DIAZ PIMIENTA M 16 (EB4713). They are 17.4m X 3.8m X 2.1m and have a displacement of 20t. Maximum speed is 40 knots. Unfortunately both launches are identical so I dont know which one of the two is this one.

davidships · Post by **davidships** » Tue Jan 25, 2011 9:18 pm

As ever, thanks Francis and Daniel.
I suppose with extensive territorial waters between and around the Canaries a rough-water boat like this ex-fishing boat could come in handy.

Francis GIB · Post by **Francis GIB** » Wed Feb 23, 2011 10:01 pm

Off Europa Point - 230211: Servicio de Vigilancia Aduanera (SVA) Launch AGUILA IV : This is a RODMAN 55HJ (Cormoran Class) High Speed Interception Boat (in excess of 55 kts). Was seen by Daniel earlier on in the morning, towing another SVA launch in an Easterly direction ,apparently going for scrap. When I arrived at the viewing point, the launch had returned and had already passed below me and was making its way to Algeciras. note the number of antennae...

Francis GIB · Post by **Francis GIB** » Wed Mar 16, 2011 9:38 pm

BAY OF GIBRALTAR ( at 5 miles distance!) - 150311: The Daddy of all Guardia Civil vessels: RIO SEGURA C 452 (IMO 9561174). Based in the Cadiz area with a remit to patrol from the border with Portugal to approximately the Island of Alboran with particualr emphasis on the Strait. At present it is the only vessel of its kind, and it is not known whether any more will be procured. Its arrival has sparked off a few tiffs with the Navy and SVA, but more so with the Navy. The Guardia Civil smugly argue that the cost of the vessel is somewhere around €15m, which is one third of a similar vessel for the Navy! Of course, they don't [want to] take into account that the warship would have more sophisticated equipment of all kinds, thus upping the overall price per unit. Another rub is the fact that this vessel is to be multi-used, that is, it will carry out surveillance, interception of narco-traffickers, interception of illegal immigrants, enforcement of maritime law and rescue. In the latter role, she can accomodate no less than 80 persons on the deck. There is also provision for 8 prisoners in 4x2 cells!
A helicopter landing pad is also incorporated but no hangar.

Some details of this vessel:

LOA: 73m
Beam: 12m
Draught: 4.2m
Disp: 2100t
Autonomy: 60 days
Service speed: 17kt
Crew: 32 (although some Spanish newspapers quote 39)

It is based in Cadiz, where a new HQ has been established. It is thought that the area of operation will no doubt be extended to beyond Spanish Territorial Waters and that this vessel, will no doubt be making some patrols extending down to the Canary Islands and possibly up to Cartagena . Perhaps also it will double up as a mother-ship for smaller but faster units including the SIVE craft, in between these areas. At some point also, if it has not had installed already, the use of onboard SIVE.

Arriving off Punta Carnero...

Approaching the outer harbour of Algeciras...

Francis GIB · Post by **Francis GIB** » Thu Mar 17, 2011 8:14 pm

Thanks TE! Instead of friendly rivalry it has become a more serious matter (quite apart from pride!) because the Guardia Civil, Policia Nacional, SVA and Municipal (or local) Police all enjoy different rates of pay! This is a very sore point not helped by the fact that when you try to equate ranks, again it proves you can equate the chevrons and the pips but certainly not the equivalent pay! Just add a dose of a new batch of vehicles or vessels or equipment, and those who get it sing, whilst the others howl!

Regards

Francis

Daniel GIB · Post by **Daniel GIB** » Wed Apr 13, 2011 1:07 pm

Spanish civil guard patrol boat RIO PISUERGA A 03 passing close to Gibraltar on the 11th April

Daniel GIB · Post by **Daniel GIB** » Wed May 11, 2011 9:18 pm

Spanish Civil Guard launch M12 in the strait on the 8th May

Francis GIB · Post by **Francis GIB** » Mon Jul 25, 2011 9:28 pm

BAY OF GIBRALTAR - 240711: SPS VIGIA P73 made an appearance yesterday morning around the time that HM Ships RICHMOND and IRON DUKE were due to leave Gibraltar. The latter ships had hosted an onboard visit by the Secretary of State for Defence, Dr Liam Fox MP, and thus their ETD had been pushed slightly back. The VIGIA entered the Bay keeping well to the Spanish coast and cruised up to the Northern end ; thereafter she exited the Bay at a very slow speed keeping to the median line. As soon as she reached a point opposite Camp Bay, she gathered speed and appeared to be heading towards Ceuta..

Some details taken from COMBAT FLEETS:

Serviola class (Type B-215)
Bldr: Izar, Ferrol - 06/1990

Normally based in Cadiz

D: 826 tons light (1,270 fl) S: 20 kts Dim: 68.65 (63.00 wl) × 10.40 × 3.40

A: 1 76.2-mm 50-cal U.S. Mk 26 DP; 2 single 12.7-mm mg

Electronics: Radar: 1 Decca 2690BT ARPA nav.; 1 Decca 2459F/I nav.

M: 2 Bazán-MTU 16V956 TB91 diesels; 2 CP props; 7,500 bhp

Electric: 468 kW tot. (3 Bazán-MAN R6V 16/18 diesel sets)

Range: 8,000/12 Fuel: 247 tons Endurance: 30 days

Crew: 8 officers, 34 enlisted + 6 spare berths

E28 · Post by **E28** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 8:16 pm

Richmond and Iron Duke, back in Pompey today.

Are the Spanish really that cretinous, sad and delusionary.
We all hear of their Gib claims (howls of laughter and derision are emanating from this computer operator), whilst nothing is mentioned of their N African enclaves, double standards and theft of trillions from the EEC coffers.

I have read a piece lately that in WW2, there were serious concerns that Spain could block the Straits of Gibraltar, in support of the Axis cause.
Have you ever heard such nonsense.

Daniel GIB · Post by **Daniel GIB** » Sat Jul 30, 2011 8:49 am

A couple more of the VIGIA P 73

davidships · Post by **davidships** » Sun Sep 25, 2011 9:39 pm

At Cartagena 5/9/2011 (struggling a bit against the sun!)

davidships · Post by **davidships** » Sun Sep 25, 2011 9:56 pm

At Cartagena 5/9/2011 (struggling a bit against the sun!)

davidships · Post by **davidships** » Sun Sep 25, 2011 10:09 pm

Spain's prototype submarine PERAL of 1888, the first to be electrically-propelled by batteries.

Built at the Arsenal de la Carraca, San Fernando, near Cadiz 1887/8.
see
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peral_Submarine
http://perso.wanadoo.es/pfcurto/peral.html

The hull now restored and preserved at Cartagena.