First French POM Offshore Patrol Vessel Arrives in Nouméa

The first of the French Navy's six new Félix Éboué-class offshore patrol vessels (OPVs), also known as the Patrouilleur d'Outre-Mer (POM), has arrived at its new home port at Chaleix naval base in Nouméa, New Caledonia.

Auguste Bénébig Reaches New Caledonia

The French Navy has welcomed the arrival of its first Félix Éboué-class offshore patrol vessel (OPV), also known as the Patrouilleur d’Outre-Mer (POM), at Chaleix naval base in Nouméa, New Caledonia.

The lead ship, Auguste Bénébig (P 779), departed Brest in western France on 17 January and completed a nearly three-month transit before reaching its new home port on 3 April, according to the French Ministry of Defence. The vessel will now continue sea acceptance trials before being formally commissioned into service.

Construction Program

The six POMs are being built under a contract awarded on 3 December 2019 to a consortium of Socarenam and CNN MCO. Construction is taking place at Socarenam’s shipyards in Boulogne-sur-Mer and Saint-Malo.

• Auguste Bénébig began construction in October 2020.
• It was launched on 15 October 2021.
• Sea trials commenced in July 2022.
• Three additional vessels entered construction during 2021–2022.
• All six OPVs are scheduled for delivery by 2025.

Replacing the P400-Class

The new Félix Éboué-class OPVs are intended to replace the French Navy’s ageing P400-class patrol boats, which have been progressively decommissioned since 2009. The last of the class, La Glorieuse (P 686), is expected to retire this year.

With enhanced capabilities compared to their predecessors, the POMs will strengthen France’s maritime presence and security operations across its overseas territories.

Source: XAirForces News, 13 April 2023

Photo: The French Navy's first new Félix Éboué-class offshore patrol vessel, Auguste Bénébig (P 779), has arrived at its new home port in New Caledonia. (Photo by French Navy)

Editor: Paul Binder (©XAirForces Aerospace Industry News Editor from France / Sweden)

Keywords: French Navy, Félix Éboué-class, offshore patrol vessel, OPV, Patrouilleur d’Outre-Mer, POM, Auguste Bénébig, P 779, Nouméa, Chaleix naval base, New Caledonia, Brest, French Ministry of Defence, sea acceptance trials, commissioning, Socarenam, CNN MCO, Boulogne-sur-Mer, Saint-Malo, shipyard, construction, launch, sea trials, delivery, 2025, P400-class, patrol boats, La Glorieuse, P 686, decommissioning, overseas territories, maritime security, capability improvements.

First French POM Offshore Patrol Vessel Arrives in Nouméa


(13.04.2023)