Loire, the first of four French Navy’s Offshore Support and Assistance Vessels (BSAH), has been delivered to the country’s Defence Procurement Agency (DGA).
The delivery took place on March 22, 2018.
Built by Kership, the newbuild was launched in June 2017.
Featuring a length of 70.3 meters and a width of 15.8 meters, Loire is able to accommodate seventeen crewmembers and twelve passengers.
The second vessel from the batch, Rhone, is expected to be delivered in summer 2018. The remaining two vessels, Seine and Garonne, will be handed over to the navy in early 2019, according to Kership.
The French Navy intends to use the vessels for rescue missions, environmental protection, work in military ports and general support for other navy units.