MEDIA RELEASE
French naval vessel “Prairial” to make port of call in New Zealand
From November 5th to December 9th, French Patrol Boat “Prairial” and its 94 sailors are conducting a routine maritime
surveillance mission to New Zealand.
The “Prairial” will call in several locations in New Zealand in November and December, and will be in open to the public
for guided visits in Lyttelton, Timaru, Dunedin, Wellington, and Auckland. Visits must be booked through the French
Embassy at the following address: presse.wellington-amba@diplomatie.gouv.fr
The French frigate “Prairial” was the fifth of a series of six ships built in the Saint-Nazaire shipyards (France) in
1990-1992, by Chantiers de l’Atlantique, which also built the Queen Mary II. Her home port is Papeete in French
Polynesia, and the name “Prairial” refers to the “month of pasture harvest” in the calendar of the eighteenth century
French revolution (from 20th of May to 18th of June).
The missions of the boat include:
- Patrol
- Control of maritime spaces
- Maritime protection and surveillance
- Navigation Police
- Surveillance of fishing in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)
- Evacuation of citizens
The ship characteristics are as follows:
- Length: 93.5 meters
- Width: 14 meters
- Draught: 4.5 meters
- Displacement: 2600 tons
- Maximum Speed: 20 knots
ends