The patrol ship Mondego set sail for the first time on Wednesday morning from the port of Funchal, as on the 11th, thirteen sailors refused to set sail to escort a Russian spy ship that passed only 30 km from Porto Santo (Madeira). These soldiers, who said they feared for their lives due to damage to the Mondego (the Navy says the ship could have completed the mission “safely”), are currently the subject of disciplinary proceedings in the Navy, which even condemned them to the Military Joint Venture for the crime of disobedience, for which they face up to 5 years in prison.
The Mondego’s sailing is part of the training for 13 new members of the garrison to replace the rebels who have been ordered back to Lisbon, according to a Navy source. It will also serve to test the repair of some of the Mondego’s faults.
The Mondego is the only Navy ship in the Madeira maritime area, where it performs search and rescue and sovereignty defense missions.