Morocco Welcomes the 'Moulay Hassan' Patrol Vessel from Spain
In a significant development for its naval capabilities, Morocco is set to receive the new maritime patrol vessel named 'Moulay Hassan,' constructed by the Spanish company Navantia. The vessel has successfully completed its construction and testing phases at the Navantia shipyard in San Fernando, located in the Cádiz province. According to recent reports from Diario de Cádiz, the official handover is scheduled for tomorrow, September 17, allowing the vessel to leave the shipyard and head towards Moroccan waters.
This state-of-the-art vessel, designated as hull number 565, measures 87 meters in length and 13 meters in width, with a capacity to accommodate a crew of up to 60 personnel. The construction of the 'Moulay Hassan' demanded over one million man-hours from the shipyard and its collaborators, generating approximately 1,100 direct and indirect job opportunities over a three-year period.
The procurement deal includes a comprehensive technical and logistical support package, which encompasses spare parts, tools, and technical documentation, alongside training services for members of the Moroccan Royal Navy in Spain. Navantia has emphasized that the design of the patrol vessel is focused on ensuring extended operational periods at sea while minimizing operational costs and lifecycle expenses, all while maintaining high reliability and ease of maintenance manageable by a limited crew.
The inception of this deal can be traced back to January 8, 2021, when Navantia announced it had secured a contract with the Moroccan Royal Navy for the design and construction of an offshore patrol vessel. At that time, the company indicated that the project would generate a million man-hours for the shipyards in the Bay of Cádiz and around 250 job positions over the subsequent three and a half years. Morocco had previously communicated its specifications for the contract in April, and various shipyards from different countries expressed interest in the project.
Navantia elaborated that its proposal was submitted in August, with a team sent to Morocco to negotiate the technical and commercial aspects. Continuous communications with Morocco's Ministry of National Defense since September aimed to align the vessel's technical specifications with the requirements of the Moroccan Royal Navy. The announced contract included the ship's design, with construction commencing after the completion of the engineering works.
During the construction stage, Navantia reported the initiation of the production phase for the Moroccan patrol vessel in July 2023, noting that the project also incorporates a technical support and logistics package along with spare parts, tools, and technical documents, in addition to training for the Moroccan Navy personnel in Spain. The design of the vessel concentrates on enabling long periods of deployment at sea while reducing operational costs and lifecycle expenses.
On September 6, 2024, Navantia announced the laying of the vessel's keel, marking it as hull number 565, maintaining the specifications of 87 meters in length and 13 meters in width, capable of accommodating 60 individuals. The construction process required over one million man-hours from the shipyard and its partners, with initial works commencing in July 2023.
By May 27, 2025, the vessel transitioned to the launching phase, completing its construction and trial stages ahead of the impending delivery. The patrol vessel is part of the 'Avante' family, developed by Navantia for surveillance and maritime patrol missions. The company describes the 'Avante 1800' model as a platform tailored for monitoring and protecting exclusive economic zones, featuring a design that allows for the integration of various systems and equipment according to customer specifications.
As reported by hespress.com.
