In a statement, the Navy details that this will be the first Portuguese submarine to carry out a mission of this type, "also being the first time that a national submarine crosses the Equator" which has put "the operational logistical capacity of the Navy to the test".

The 'Mar Aberto 23.2' initiative aims to “develop bilateral and multilateral cooperation actions, and naval presence and diplomacy, namely within the scope of the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries, Coordinated Maritime Presences in the Gulf of Guinea and the '5+5 Defense' Initiative ', with Morocco”.

"During this period, the 'Arpão' submarine also contributes to maritime security in an area of operations located in the South Atlantic Ocean, between the coast of Brazil and the West African coast", said the Navy.

For 120 days, the submarine will visit two continents and five countries: Cape Verde, Brazil, South Africa, Angola and Morocco, “traveling more than 13,000 miles, totalling around 2,500 hours of navigation”.

The garrison will be commanded by the frigate captain Taveira Pinto.