HALIFAX -- When the Royal Canadian Navy's East Coast fleet goes to sea for exercises later this month, it will be accompanied by a Spanish navy supply vessel.

SPS Patino sailed into Halifax harbour on Friday to fill the hole left last year when the last of the RCN's supply vessels was taken out of service. SPS is the abbreviation for Spanish naval ship.

The ship is a 17,000-tonne replenishment vessel that can carry fuel and supplies to keep naval groups at sea for prolonged periods.

The stop-gap will ensure that Canadian ships and sailors maintain their ability to refuel at sea and extend their deployments and exercises.

"By putting together this mutually beneficial arrangement with our Spanish colleagues, we not only fill a short-term capability gap in the Canadian fleet, but even more importantly, we strengthen a vital relationship with a like-minded ally through the building and sharing of expertise," Vice Admiral Mark Norman, commander of the navy, said in a statement.

Both of the navy's 1970s-era supply ships, HMCS Protecteur and HMCS Preserver, were taken out of service last year.

Protecteur suffered a serious engine-room fire off Hawaii in 2014 and was de-commissioned. Preserver was found to have corrosion problems and technicians had to scour eBay for parts. The ship has been relegated to duty as a floating fuel station in Halifax harbour.

The first of a new class of supply ship isn't due to be completed until 2020 at the earliest. A plan by the former Harper government to fill the gap by converting a civilian vessel was put on hold by the new Liberal government last fall.

Almirante Montt, a Chilean replenishment ship, served temporarily with the RCN's West Coast fleet last year.