![The Carnival Radiance cruise ship, operated by Carnival Corp., in dry docks during servicing at the Navantia SA shipyard in Cadiz, Spain, on Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. [Angel Garcia/Bloomberg via Getty Images]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/GettyImages-1235620313-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1)
Morocco yesterday announced a loan agreement with Spanish multinational financial services provider, Santander Group, to fund buying a warship from a Spanish shipbuilding company.
According to Anadolu, a Moroccan state newspaper published the decision of Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch stating that a loan contract worth $92.2 million had been signed with Santander Group.
The Moroccan newspaper stated that the financial company will fund the purchase of the warship which will be built by the Spanish state-owned shipbuilding company, Navantia.
In January, Spain’s EL PAÍS newspaper reported that the Royal Moroccan Navy has awarded a contract to Spanish shipbuilder Navantia to build a new offshore patrol vessel (OPV).
The Moroccan Navy announced the specifications of the contract for the construction of the OPV in April.