French Navy’s Floréal-class frigate Vendémiaire visits Manila

France’s Floréal-class light surveillance frigate Vendémiaire has arrived in Manila for a routine port call.

Vendémiaire has an overall length of 93.5 meters, a beam of 14.1 meters, and a draft of 4.3 meters. The vessel is equipped with an anti-surface gun, anti-air gun, and rapid guns.

The frigate, which is the fifth unit in its class, was constructed at Saint-Nazaire, France, in 1992 and entered service in 1993. It is based in Nouméa, New Caledonia.

French frigates sailing overseas have been designed to carry out surveillance and humanitarian missions, as well as enforce French interests away from the mainland, according to the officials.

These include:

• surveillance of overseas areas under French sovereignty (EEZ surveillance, fisheries protection, and anti-smuggling);
• maritime domain awareness and police patrol (anti-pollution, medical and logistics assistance);
• fostering maritime cooperation with allies in the area; and
• humanitarian action.

Vendémiaire will be docked in Manila until March 11.

Its crew members will participate in a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) preparedness operation with the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Coast Guard following the EU Crimario training mission in the Philippines last month.