Navantia's Discreet Delivery of the Patrol Vessel Moulay Hassan
The Spanish state-owned shipbuilding company, Navantia, has made a significant yet unusually discreet move by delivering the first military vessel to Morocco in four decades. This vessel, known as the Moulay Hassan patrol boat, is valued at over 100 million euros and has officially joined the ranks of the Moroccan Navy. Sources within Navantia have confirmed the successful signing of the delivery agreement, emphasizing that this step is a fulfillment of the contractual obligations between the two parties.
Traditionally, the delivery of such vessels is celebrated with a public ceremony at the San Fernando shipyards, where the boat was constructed. However, in a surprising turn of events, both Navantia and the Moroccan authorities have mutually agreed to forgo any formal ceremony in light of the current tensions surrounding the Ceuta crisis. While the specific reasons for this decision have not been disclosed, the backdrop of strained relations undoubtedly casts a shadow over this transaction.
Specifications and Background of the Moulay Hassan
Though Navantia has withheld detailed information regarding the armament of the "high-seas patrol vessel," they have provided some technical specifications. The vessel measures 87 meters in length and 13 meters in width, designed to accommodate a crew of 60 personnel. Additionally, the vessel comes equipped with a comprehensive technical-logistic support package, which includes spare parts, tools, and technical documentation. Notably, training services for the personnel of the Royal Moroccan Navy will also be conducted in Spain.
According to Navantia, the Moulay Hassan is engineered to ensure prolonged deployment periods at sea while maintaining remarkably low operational and lifecycle costs. The design focus is on enhancing operability, maintainability, and reliability with a reduced crew. Although the exact price has not been disclosed, it is known that in 2022, the Moroccan government secured a loan from Banco Santander amounting to 95 million euros to fulfill its contract with Navantia, a loan that received approval from Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch.
Interestingly, this discreet delivery stands in stark contrast to earlier phases of the contract, which were marked by significant public ceremonies when relations between Spain and Morocco were less contentious. On May 27, 2025, Navantia's president, Ricardo Domínguez, presided over the launching ceremony, emphasizing the importance of the purchase for the Royal Moroccan Navy. He stated, "This program not only signifies a construction milestone but also represents the strength of a collaboration that solidifies over time and is a testament to the shared commitment between Spain and Morocco towards security and technological excellence." Throughout the intervening period, the patrol vessel remained in Navantia’s possession for finalization and testing before its now low-key delivery, devoid of media coverage or official presence.
The announcement regarding this procurement was initially made in 2021 by the then Minister of Finance, María Jesús Montero, and the current president of Sepi, Belén Gualda, who indicated that it would mark a "resumption" of military vessel sales to Morocco after a hiatus of four decades.
As reported by elmundo.es.
