A Spanish state vessel last night transited through British Gibraltar Territorial Waters during an important Royal Navy training exercise.

According to an eyewitness, at around 10 pm last night the “Alcatraz”- a large customs patrol vessel – reportedly disrupted a Submarine Parachute Assistance Group (SPAG) drop in BGTW.

The Spanish vessel was seen heading directly towards the Royal Navy RHIBs which were awaiting the parachutists in the “drop zone” before being escorted from BGTW by RN Gib Squadron.

The Ministry of Defence has confirmed to YGTV that the vessel transited BGTW last night but insisted that the SPAG exercise “was not affected and they completed their mandatory annual training successfully.”

The SPAG has been in Gibraltar this week as part of their ongoing mandatory training requirement.

The Group’s primary task is to deploy a team of people with escape and rescue knowledge to the scene of a submarine in distress.

Pics courtesy: Robert Azopardi