The listed company’s facilities in Galicia are central to Navantia Australia's activities
As well as touring Navantia's offices in Madrid, the Australian Leaders got the chance to visit the company's shipyards in Ferrol, where construction of the two Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment (AOR) vessels that the Royal Australian Navy commissioned last year is set to begin in June.
Navantia's Ferrol site is key to the company's activity in Australia, not only due to its capacity as a shipyard but also because it is where engineering, planning and development is undertaken for projects that are subsequently submitted for tenders.
During their visit, flanked by Navantia's Shipyard Director Julio Martín Ramos, the Leaders learned about the company's world-leading naval construction technology. Turbines and generators, as well as vessel equipment, are also manufactured at Navantia's facilities in Ferrol, in addition to the maintenance work carried out at the centre, which is one of the top vessel repair hubs in Europe.
The Australian guests were also given a guided tour of the vessel 'Cantabria' by rear admiral Alfonso Pérez de Nanclares, the commander of Group 1 of the fleet, and frigate captain Santiago de Colsa Trueba. The 'Cantabria' is the second largest ship in the Spanish Navy, and is the model based on which the Royal Australian Navy's vessels will be built in Ferrol. The ship visited Australia in 2013, where she took part in several manoeuvres together with the Royal Australian Navy and demonstrated her capacities and versatility.
The closing lunch offered by Navantia was also attended by the Armoury's Chief Admiral in Ferrol, Javier Romero, who gave a brief presentation on the current cooperation between the Spanish and the Australian Navy.
