The visit took place at a time of intense collaboration between the Royal Australian Navy and the Spanish Navy

Rear Admiral Stuart Mayer, Admiral of the Australian Royal Navy Fleet (RAN), made an official visit to the Military Arsenal of Ferrol. On his arrival at Ferrol, he was received at the Military Arsenal by the Chief Admiral, Vice Admiral Francisco Javier Romero Caramelo. He then attended a presentation in which special emphasis was placed on explaining the support that the Arsenal provides for the maintenance of the F-100 frigate combat system; five frigates all based on Ferrol and framed in the 31st Escoltas Squad.

The current moment is of intense collaboration between the two warships. This cooperation began in 2013 with a draft agreement whereby the "Cantabria" combat supply ship deployed in Australia for almost a year. This deployment made it possible to advance interoperability with a non-NATO country and to increase the training of both seafarers, without any additional cost or a reduction in the Navy's operational capabilities. Following the good results of this collaboration, since last February and for a period of four months, the F-105 "Cristobal Colón" also remains deployed in Australia in a support collaboration for the training of the endowments of the "Hobart" class destroyers of the RAN; with the "Cristóbal Colón" with personnel of the endowment of those destroyers on board. The Spanish Navy also received a visit this year in April by Admiral Chief of Royal Australian Navy, Admiral Tim Barrett, who also visited the Military Arsenal of Ferrol during his stay.