Spain Gives Patrol Boats More Freedom to Track Moroccan Ships
Spain is changing its military instructions for dealing with Moroccan ships around Sebta and Melilla. Its patrol boats can now head directly to meet them without waiting for approval from their superiors. The new procedure follows naval incidents last summer.
Madrid is moving to more active monitoring of Royal Moroccan Navy vessels. Until the July 30 crisis, their movements were monitored mainly from the Maritime Action Operations and Surveillance Centre (COVAM). Spanish patrol boats can now put to sea to meet them without seeking fresh approval from their superiors for each deployment, Euronews reports.
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“We are more vigilant; we no longer wait for them to enter before intervening,” a military source told the Spanish daily El Mundo. Spanish vessels can thus accompany Moroccan ships as they move and step up surveillance before a situation escalates.
Two Spanish patrol boats deployed
At Sebta, the Spanish Navy has the Atalaya, a patrol boat based in Ferrol, armed with a cannon and four machine guns. Its crew consists of 48 sailors. At Melilla, the Isla de León, equipped with a Browning machine gun, carries ten military personnel. It can also operate around Sebta and the islet of Persil.
The reorganization follows incursions by Moroccan military vessels into waters claimed by Spain on July 30 and 31. A Moroccan frigate and several patrol boats had sparked a standoff with the Spanish Navy. Madrid deployed several additional vessels before holding military discussions with Rabat.
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The new procedure applies in particular to “innocent passage,” as provided for under international maritime law. This regime allows foreign ships, including military vessels, to pass through a state’s territorial waters under certain conditions. Spanish patrol boats are now tasked with accompanying these movements and detecting activity that could threaten maritime security.
According to information reported by Euronews, Moroccan ships’ movements have declined significantly since the summer. Spain’s Interior Ministry, the Guardia Civil and the Navy say no such passage was recorded during the Spanish monarchs’ visit to Sebta and Melilla, or in the days that followed.
