The Berenguela passing through the Suez Canal, ca.1914. Spain. By Alejandro Arias Salgado. This frigate participated in the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869. It was the first Spanish warship to pass through the canal, bound for the Philippines. At one point, Captain Alejandro Arias Salgado found himself obliged to offload the ship's artillery as its draught was too deep. Camels towed it the rest of the way to the Red Sea (from 2nd to 17th December, 1869). Naval Museum. Madrid, Spain.