French naval vessel to make port of call in Auckland

French naval vessel “Prairial” to make port of call in Auckland

From December 4th to 9th, French Patrol Boat “Prairial” and its 94 sailors will conduct a routine visit in Auckland while on a maritime surveillance mission to New Zealand.

The “Prairial” will call in several locations in New Zealand in November and December, and will be open to the public for guided visits in Auckland on Saturday the 7th of December, from 9am to 11am, and from 2pm to 5pm, and on Sunday the 8th of December, from 9am to 11am. Visits must be booked prior to 5pm on Thursday the 5th of December, through the French Embassy at the following address: presse.wellington-amba@diplomatie.gouv.fr

The French frigate “Prairial” was the second 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

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