The Stalwart, the second combat supply ship built by Navantia Ferrol for the Australian Navy, sails to its future base in Perth. The president of the public company, Ricardo Domínguez, and the Australian ambassador to Spain, Sophia McIntyr, participated in the farewell ceremony of the ship at the shipyard.
The diplomat affirmed that the departure implies the closure of more than a decade of ship construction by the Spanish company for its Navy, and affirmed that 60% of the fleet carry the Navantia seal. “The role of Navantia in the construction of four classes of ships for Australia has been an important pillar in the development and evolution of our political, economic, military and cultural ties,” he said, while recalling that from now on the relationship will continue through the maintenance of the vessels.
Ricardo Domínguez underlined “the success of the collaboration” with Australia and valued the effort made by the workers to obtain the ships. Although he stressed the important role that the F-110 frigates will play as a lever for the shipyard’s transformation. The shipyard director, Eduardo Dobarro, also alluded to this challenge, who stressed that with the ship “the knowledge, know-how and effort made by the workers, both from Navantia and its collaborating industry, is evident, especially in such a delicate situation, caused by the pandemic.
The combat supply ships built in Navantia Ferrol for the Australian Navy will be, according to the Australian Ambassador, Sophia McIntyr, “the backbone” that supports the naval capabilities of her country “for the next two or three decades.” In addition, she stressed that, “the end of the construction of these ships is not the end of our relationship”, as Navantia has a maintenance contract for the ships for the five years following their entry into service.