SPS Galicia is already capsizing in the center of Rota. While she is ready to leave as soon as she receives the order, after embarking on the medical staff that will be given by the Spanish Military Health Service, she will leave her mother-base.

The announcement was made by the Chief of the Defense Staff at the Palacio de la Moncloa on 31 March during the daily press conference. “The ship of the Galicia Navy is being prepared to go to increase the hospital capacity of Melilla,” he said, although he has not specified the exact day on which it will arrive in the city.

While not its primary role, Galicia acted as a hospital ship in 2003 when it was docked by the U.S. after the occupation of the country at the Iraqi port of Umm Qasr military response and refugees.

The vessel has two operating rooms, eight ICU beds, a consultation room, triage, radiology, a laboratory, sterilization, an infectious area and a dental clinic, and a total of up to 800 beds.

While Melilla is not among the areas most affected by the pandemic, it is the only city whose health is directly dependent on the Spanish Health System and in the current situation, with the Moroccan border closed, sending the naval ship is a message of psychological help to the citizens.

Maritime Business World