The maritime authority said in a statement that the ship has left the Lisbon Naval Base for a mission in the Azores archipelago that will continue until August to "carry out hydrographic surveys under the project of mapping the Portuguese Sea, strengthen the Permanent Naval Device in the Maritime Zone of the Azores and cooperate in the technical-scientific field with the Regional Government and the University of the Azores".

During the ship's stay in the region, two distinct phases are planned, one of these phases consists of the hydrographic survey with multibeam sonar of seamounts (rich ecosystems and of particular relevance).

The other phase also consists of a multibeam sonar hydrographic survey in a remote area in addition to the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Azores (EEZ), which results from collaboration with the Mission Structure for the Extension of the Continental Shelf.

The D. Carlos I will also accompany the Hydrographic Brigade that will carry out the survey of port areas of both Flores and Corvo, for cartographic updates in collaboration with the Regional Government of the Azores, the naval press release added.