The Spanish Oceanographic Fleet is made up of ten vessels managed by different organisations. The COCSABO (Commission for the Coordination and Monitoring of Oceanographic Vessel Activities) is the official body responsible for coordinating the scientific and technical activity undertaken by the vessels of this distributed ICTS.
The Hespérides Oceanographic Research Vessel (BIO) belongs to the Spanish Navy's Maritime Action Force and is based in Cartagena. Its scientific equipment is managed by the Maritime Technology Unit of the CSIC. The vessel has a reinforced hull for navigation in polar areas. Its primary mission is to support the Antarctic campaign during the austral summer. It operates the rest of the year in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
The CSIC Fleet is made up of three ships and a set of scientific instruments that can be operated from any FLOTA vessel.
- B/O Sarmiento de Gamboa
- B/O García del Cid
- B/O Mytilus
The Spanish Institute of Oceanography FLOTA is made up of five vessels and a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) capable of reaching a depth of 2,000 metres.
- B/O Ángeles Alvariño
- B/O Ramón Margalef
- B/O Francisco de Paula Navarro
- B/O José María Navaz
- B/O Lura
