A second Buque de Acción Marítima (BAM) maritime action ship for the Spanish Navy, the Rayo P42, has been launched by Navantia at the San Fernando-Puerto Real shipyard.

The Spanish Navy awarded a contract to Navantia On 31 July 2006 for the construction of a total of ten BAM ships.

The vessel is capable of undergoing a wide range of missions including the escort of commercial vessels, anti-piracy missions, search and rescue operations, and humanitarian aid.

The 93.9m-long, 14.2-wide BAM ship has a full load displacement of 2,575t and an operational range of 8,000nm.

The ship can accommodate a crew of 70 and cruise at a maximum speed of 20.5kt.

Rayo P42 is the second of an initial series of four vessels built by Navantia. It is expected to be delivered in 2011.