The ship's primary missions are oceanic patrol, fishing control, escort, and maritime rescue.

It is powered by two MTU engines which supply 7,500 horsepower (5,600 kW) to two variable-pitch propellers for a maximum speed of 15.3 knots (28.3 km/h; 17.6 mph).

It has taken part in several international exercises over the course of its career, including Neo Tapon with NATO, Majestic Eagle, and Linked Seas.

[2] In March 1995, Vigía set sail from Cádiz for Northeast Atlantic to protect fishing trawlers during the bloodless Turbot War with Canada, which had escalated earlier that month following the Canadian seizure of the vessel Estai.

From February to June 2017, the vessel deployed to the Gulf of Guinea after visiting Mauritania, Cape Verde, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Cameroon and São Tomé and Príncipe.