Spanish Navy Underwater Construction Team 1 conducts bilateral diving exchange in Cartagena
22nd Naval Construction Regiment
Date: March 18, 2026
Posted: March 20, 2026 09:37
News ID: 560994
U.S. Navy Seabee divers assigned to Underwater Construction Team (UCT) 1, Construction Diving Detachment Charlie (CDD/C) conducted a bilateral dive exchange with Spanish Navy divers in Cartagena, Spain from March 18 to 26, 2026, to advance maritime infrastructure assessment capabilities in support of U.S. 6th Fleet objectives.
The activity will be conducted under the framework of the U.S.-Spain Bilateral Training and Exercises Council (BTEC) and will pair sailors from UCT One with divers from the Spanish Navy’s Centro de Buseo de la Almada and Escuela Militar de Buseo, both located at La Algameca naval base.
“This exchange is aimed at building technical interoperability while developing a common understanding of the status of port infrastructure and expeditionary diving capabilities,” said Lt. Col. Alice Morgan, CDD/C director. “Working in partnership with Spanish Navy divers strengthens our collective ability to operate throughout the ocean.”
During the exchange, U.S. and Spanish divers conducted classroom instruction, safety and emergency procedure reviews, scuba diving and surface diving operations, underwater inspections, remote-controlled vehicle operation, and hydrographic surveying training. The exercise also included bilateral inspections of Level I and Level II waterfront facilities to collect hydrographic and engineering data to assist in future maintenance and construction planning.
“Port infrastructure is what enables fleet movement and combat,” said Estefan López, senior lead construction man, lieutenant officer in charge of CDD/B and master diver. “By seeing these facilities first-hand with the Spanish Navy, we are honing our own expeditionary skills while helping to set the conditions for future operations.”
This effort will support NATO’s maritime readiness by increasing Spain’s underwater inspection and construction capabilities, and will allow U.S. naval planners to assess disembarkation port infrastructure critical to freedom of maneuver and logistics support in the Mediterranean region.
Spain’s strategic position at the gateway to the Mediterranean Sea makes it an important NATO ally for maritime security and power projection in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. This submersible exchange builds on the long-standing U.S.-Spanish defense relationship and sets the stage for future cooperative construction projects and multilateral exercises.
UCT One is a specialized unit within the Naval Construction Command that provides expeditionary underwater construction, military diving, and maritime engineering capabilities in support of naval, joint, and combined operations around the world.
Headquartered in Rota, Spain, the 22nd NCR commands the naval construction force of Naval Expeditionary Combat Force Europe-Africa/Task Force 68, supporting U.S., allied and partner interests throughout the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations.
Task Force 68 (CTF 68) is part of the U.S. 6th Fleet and commands all naval expeditionary combat forces in the U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command areas of responsibility. These expeditionary forces provide maritime engineering and combat support capabilities in remote, austere and complex environments.
