Morocco and Spain strengthen their maritime cooperation through Navantia
The San Fernando shipyard in Cadiz, Spain, was the setting for the official launch of the Avante 1800+ patrol vessel built by the Spanish company Navantia and delivered to the Royal Moroccan Navy.
This moment has come almost three years after the signing of the contract in September 2022 for the commissioning of this vessel, with a loan of 95 million euros from Banco Santander, out of a total cost of 130 million euros for the new vessel.
نجحت عملية تعويم السفينة Avante 1800 التابعة للبحرية الملكية المغربية 🇲🇦 و التي ستدخل حاليا مرحلة التجهيز و التسليح قبل تسليمها بشكل نهائي للمغرب في النصف الأول من السنة المقبلة pic.twitter.com/5WhwjAI7mc
— Defense Atlas - المرصد الأطلسي للدفاع و التسليح (@DefenseAtlas009) May 27, 2025
The vessel is an Avante 1800+ class ship, construction number 565 at the Navantia San Fernando shipyard, 87 metres long and 13 metres wide, with a crew of 60.
🆕@NavantiaOficial San Fernando celebra la botadura del patrullero de altura para la Marina Real de #Marruecos
➡️El patrullero será la construcción número 565 de #Navantia San Fernando:
+1 millón de horas de trabajo
+1.100 empleos generadoshttps://t.co/g9HA57GqMA pic.twitter.com/WXkFtnXTNp— Navantia (@NavantiaOficial) May 28, 2025
The construction work took almost two years, with one million hours of work invested and some 1,100 jobs created for the occasion, including direct, indirect and induced employment.
The contract also included technical and logistical support and technical training services for Royal Moroccan Navy personnel in Spain. In addition to spare parts, technical documentation and specialised tools.
The launch ceremony was attended by important figures from the business and political worlds and the armed forces of Morocco and Spain. Among them were the mayor of San Fernando, Patricia Cavada, the mayor of Puerto Real, Aurora Salvador, the deputy delegate of the Government in Cadiz, Blanca Flores, the delegate of the Regional Government in Cadiz, Mercedes Colombo, the head of the Cádiz Arsenal (ALARDIZ), Vice Admiral Rubén Rodríguez Peña, the president of Navantia, Ricardo Domínguez García-Baquero, the director of Maritime Action Vessels at Navantia, Alberto Cervantes, and the captain of the Royal Moroccan Navy, Mohammed El Fadili.
The launching ceremony, held on Tuesday afternoon, consolidated the close naval cooperation between Spain and Morocco, based on continuous exchange and mutual technical recognition.
Alberto Cervantes, director of Maritime Action Vessels at Navantia, began the official speeches by remembering José Antonio Rodríguez Poch, former head of the Moroccan programme, who died a year ago. Cervantes stressed that ‘this ship illustrates the expertise acquired by our teams and the continuity of a relationship based on high standards and mutual respect’.
Captain Mohammed El Fadili highlighted the strategic scope of this collaboration: ‘This patrol vessel embodies the deep ties of friendship and cooperation that unite the Kingdoms of Morocco and Spain, the Royal Navy and the Navantia shipyards’.
El Fadili linked the acquisition to the military strategy of the Kingdom of Morocco, stating that ‘this unit attests to the will of King Mohammed VI, Supreme Commander and Chief of the General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces, to build a robust, responsive and enduring Navy capable of responding to new maritime security challenges’.
Finally, the president of Navantia, Ricardo Domínguez García-Baquero, praised the work of those involved in the construction of the ship, ‘eloquent proof of a patient and resolute understanding between two nations sharing the same maritime destiny’.
This collaboration is yet another example of the good relations between Morocco and Spain, two political and military partners and allies that cooperate on both sides of the Mediterranean in favour of regional stability and progress.
Technical characteristics of the Avante 1800+ patrol boat
The Avante 1800+ is a compact and affordable corvette designed for air, surface and electronic warfare missions, as well as surveillance of Exclusive Economic Zones. With a stealth design, long range and advanced sensors, it combines operational flexibility with Navantia's experience in frigate design.
Designed to maximise operational capability in coastal and open water missions, the Avante 1800+ combines a compact size with advanced combat capabilities. Its stealth design reduces radar signature, and its architecture allows for seamless integration of modern systems. Ideal for navies seeking versatility and efficiency in a single vessel. Its ability to operate with reduced crews and maintain high availability makes it a strategic solution for dynamic defence scenarios, as reported by the Spanish shipbuilder itself.
