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ARCHIVED - Murcia-based Infanta Elena docks in Alicante for visits as part of farewell tour of Spain

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The former warship has completed 43 years of service and will open its doors to the public in Alicante on Sept 30 and Oct 1

<span style='color:#780948'>ARCHIVED</span> - Murcia-based Infanta Elena docks in Alicante for visits as part of farewell tour of Spain

Marking the end of 43 years of service, the offshore patrol boat Infanta Elena, based in Cartagena, Murcia, took to the seas for the last time last week and embarked on a 'farewell' surveillance mission in the Mediterranean, docking at various ports along the way.

And this weekend, the ship will drop anchor at Alicante Port, offering the pubic a chance to hop on board and find out more about the vessel which, in addition to carrying out maritime surveillance and security operations in areas of national sovereignty for more than four decades, has also collaborated in the control of maritime traffic and rescues.

Infanta Elena will dock at Alicante's pier 14 (Ocean), and will be open to the public on Friday September 30 between 4pm and 7.30pm and Saturday October 1, from 11am to 1.3pm and 4pm to 7.30pm.

The patrol boat is the third in the series of six warships of the former 'Descubierta' class and was launched by the Empresa Nacional Bazán in September 1976. It was handed over to the Navy in 1980 and received its battle flag in Alicante in June 1983.

On January 13 2004, after undergoing an extensive refit, Infanta Elena was reclassified as a 'Patrullero de Altura' (High-rise patrol boat) with the side number P-76.

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Based in Cartagena, its main missions are maritime security, the fight against maritime pollution, the detection and monitoring of possible illegal immigration activities and collaboration with the State Security Forces and Corps in the fight against terrorism and drug trafficking.

The current Commander of the ship is Lieutenant Commander Narciso Donoso Alonso who heads a crew of 81. The ship's movements are planned and monitored by the Maritime Operational Command (MOM) under the direction of Admiral of Maritime Action (ALMART).

According to the Ministry of Defence, Infanta Elena and other vessels involved in Permanent Surveillance and Deterrence Operations are an effective tool in the early detection of threats "facilitating an immediate and viable response to a potential crisis".

The Land (MOT), Maritime (MOM), Aerospace (MOA) and the newly created Cyberspace (MOC) Operational Commands make up the overall structure. On a daily basis, some 3,000 Armed Forces personnel - land, maritime, aerospace and newly created cyberspace - are involved in permanent surveillence operations, under the operational control of MOM.

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Image: armada.defensa.gob.es

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