The contract calls for the purchase of the six Offshore Patrol Vessels as well as options for the maintenance of the vessels for a total duration of 6 years. CNN MCO, based in Brest, will provide ship support services.
The future OPVs will be delivered between 2022 and 2025. The acquisition of new vessels for the French Navy « aims to improve the protection of overseas territories and their populations, » the Ministry of Armed Forces said.
Two POM vessels will each be based in New Caledonia (Nouméa), la Réunion (Port-des-Galets) and in French Polynesia (Papeete). They will replace the ageing P400-class patrol boats.
« In a context of growing threats against fishery resources, biodiversity and international rules of the law of the sea, France intends to fully exercise its sovereignty and responsibilities in metropolitan France and overseas »
French Ministry of Armed Forces
The future POM patrol ships will carry out protection missions in France’s exclusive economic zones (EEZ), intervene against maritime pollution and in favor of environmental protection, as well as rescue and assistance to people.
The POM will have an endurance of 30 days without refueling. Each ship will accommodate a crew of 30 sailors and 23 passengers and operate an unmanned aerial vehicle. Their armament will include a 20mm caliber remote-controlled turret (Narwhal by Nexter), as well as 12.7 mm and 7.62mm machine guns. The POM vessel will be 80 meters long and 11.8 meters wide, with a draft of 3.5 meters.
