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

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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

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