France Orders A Fourth Batiment Multi-mission Vessel From Kership

The French procurement agency (DGA) has confirmed an order for the construction of the fourth Batiment multi-mission vessel B2M.

This order complements the order of three buildings on December 30, 2013. Indeed, given the capacities of this ship, Defense Minister Jean-Yves le Drian decided in 2015, to update the law of programming Military, to command a fourth ship, destined for the West Indies. It will be delivered in the second half of 2018, DGA said in a statement Thursday.

The first B2M, the D'Entrecasteaux , approved March 25, 2016, joined last July 29 its home port of Noumea in New Caledonia. The Bougainville , second multi-mission building, approved September 16, 2016, is stationed at Papeete in French Polynesia since 16 December 2016. The third B2M, the Champlain , - which is expected to be approved early in 2017 is intended to operate before summer 2017.

B2M are vessels intended to carry out sovereignty missions overseas: presence, surveillance and protection of French interests in exclusive economic zones, logistical support and safeguarding and assistance for the benefit of populations, especially in the event of natural disasters. Armed by two crews of 20 sailors and a displacement of about 2300 tons on load, the B2M can reach a speed of 13 knots. They replace the light transport vessels (Batral), have an increased logistical support capacity (crane, vehicles, containers, service craft) and can carry up to 17 people, in addition to the crew. They allow missions of 30 days without refueling and are able to sail 200 days a year.