Navy sweeps into Santa Pola

THE SPANISH navy mine sweepers Segura, Sella, Tambre and Duero will be docked in Santa Pola this weekend (February 9-10).

The four vessels are part of the navy’s first mine sweeper squadron and are named after Spanish rivers.

They will be offering free open days in order to make the public aware of the navy’s mine sweeping capabilities and the missions they undertake.

The visits in the port will take place from 15.30-18.00 on Saturday and from 10.00-13.00 and 15.30-18.30 on Sunday.

They consist of tours of different sections of the boats, where people will learn of the crew’s responsibilities, the missions they undertake and the mine sweeping process.

The ships were obtained by the navy between 1999 and 2005.

The navy has a total of six ‘Segura’ class mine sweepers, which are all operated under the auspices of the first squadron of the MCM (mine sweeping unit), based in Cartagena.

Their dimensions are 55 metres in length, 10.7 wide, with a draft of 2.5 metres. Fully laden their displacement is 570 tonnes, a maximum speed of 14 knots and a range of 2,000 nautical miles.

Each has a crew of 45 people.

The main missions undertaken by this class of ship are the detection and neutralisation of submerged explosive devices that may have been laid in the access routes to ports, naval bases and coastal defences.

The three vessels are currently on protocol and operational procedure exercises that are described as not having any impact on the local environment or ecosystem.