Click here - to select or create a menu

Naval News

DSEI Japan 2023
  • News
  • Event News
    • SNA 2023
    • Euronaval 2022
    • Indo Pacific 2022
    • Sea Air Space 2022
    • DIMDEX 2022
  • Interviews
  • Videos
  • Advertising
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
Home» News»French Navy Commissions 3rd Loire-class BSAM Support & Assistance Vessel ‘Seine’
BSAM Seine sailing integrated a French amphibious group (with Tonnerre LHD and La Fayette frigate) as part of her long cruise. French Navy picture.

French Navy Commissions 3rd Loire-class BSAM Support & Assistance Vessel ‘Seine’

The French Navy (Marine Nationale) commissioned its third Metropolitan Offshore Support & Assistance Vessel (BSAM) on July 24, 2019. The BSAM 'Seine' is the third of four ships of a class designed and built by Kership.

Xavier Vavasseur 29 Jul 2019

During its long-term deployment that took place from March to June 2019, the BSAM Seine conducted cooperation with the Senegalese navy in Africa, integrated a French Navy amphibious group (with the Tonnerre LHD and La Fayette frigate) and even sailed 400 nautical miles up the Amazon River, demonstration its capabilities in brackish water.

En 2017, le patrouilleur polaire L’Astrolabe touchait la Terre Adélie. En 2018, le BSAM Rhône franchissait le passage du Nord Est. Aujourd’hui, le BSAM Seine remonte l’Amazone sur 400 nautiques jusqu’à Santarem. #unemarinedemploi pic.twitter.com/1YPlDeP5vF

— Chef d'état-major de la Marine (@amiralPrazuck) May 25, 2019

In March, the BSAM Rhône participated in pollution control operations following the sinking of the Grande America ship. More recently, the BSAM Loire provided on-site coordination and logistic movements in the research work of the submarine Minerve.

The French Navy changed the designation of several vessels in its fleet earlier this year. Previously known as BSAH (for Bâtiments de Soutien et d’Assistance Hauturiers or Offshore Support & Assistance Vessel) the Loire-class is now designated as BASM (for Bâtiments de Soutien et d’Assistance Métropolitains or Metropolitan Offshore Support & Assistance Vessel).

The first BSAM, the Loire, operates from Toulon; the second ship of the class, the Rhone, operates from Brest. The third unit, the Seine, is based in Toulon. The fourth and final ship of the class, Garonne, has just been delivered. The vessels are named after major French rivers.

Loire-class vessels can conduct a wide range of support missions: They were designed to accommodate divers, to carry weapons and ammunition, to support submarines and surface ships, to tow underwater antennas, as well as to deploy a pollution control dam. They have a towing capacity of 80 tons of traction, a navigation speed of 14 knots and a significant endurance of about 30 days (without refueling). They are fitted with an 8 meters boat, several RHIBs and a crane for loading and unloading containers.

BASM main caracteritics

Length overall: 70.30 m
Breadth: 15.80 m
Draft: 5.00 m
Displacement: 2,960 tonnes 
Dead-weight: approx. 1000 T
Loading area on deck: 250 m²
Speed: 14 knots
Hull / superstructure: Steel
Amenities: 17 (crew) + 12 passengers
Engine: 2 x 2 650 kilowatts
Generators: 2 x 300 kWe

BSAM French Navy 2019-07-29
Tags BSAM French Navy
Facebook Twitter Stumble linkedin Pinterest More

Authors

Posted by : Xavier Vavasseur
Xavier is based in Paris, France. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems and a Master of Business Administration from Florida Institute of Technology (FIT). Xavier has been covering naval defense topics for nearly a decade.

Related Articles

VSR-700 VTOL UAV Successfully Tested Over Water

VSR-700 VTOL UAV Successfully Tested Over Water

Xavier Vavasseur 01 Feb 2023
The DGA validated the technical capabilities of the VSR-700 vertical take off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) during a maritime test phase in December 2022.
French Navy’s New BRF Supply Ship Starts Sea Trials

French Navy’s New BRF Supply Ship Starts Sea Trials

Xavier Vavasseur 31 Jan 2023
French shipbuilder Naval Group announced that the “Jacques Chevallier” started its sea trials campaign on 25 January.
France and Italy Procure 700 Aster Surface to Air Missiles

France and Italy Procure 700 Aster Surface to Air Missiles

Xavier Vavasseur 30 Jan 2023
France and Italy announce the procurement of close to 700 surface to air missiles of the Aster family. The contract was awarded by OCCAR to EUROSAM on 30 December 2022.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Legal / Privacy Policy
About Us
Contact Us

Copyright © 2022 Naval News
All Rights Reserved