According to Ports and Ships website, the unexpected arrival off Durban on Monday morning of a Spanish patrol ship, identified initially only as 'Spanish naval ship P43' caused a moment or two of excitement as it appeared the ship might be about to enter the harbour.

P43 is a Meteoro class offshore patrol ship of 2575 tonnes displacement and entered service earlier this year in February. It appears that the ship might have arrived from the Persian Gulf.

However, the vessel rendezvoused with a small craft off the harbour entrance channel during which two naval officers boarded the patrol ship, which then headed off past the Bluff. P43, also named Relampago has then sailed to Cape Town and taken up a berth at the V&A Waterfront, Ports and Ships website reports.