FS Ducuing joins the European maritime operation in the Mediterranean

(B2) The French Navy's high seas patrol boat, the FS Commander Ducuing  (F-795) joined the EUNAVFOR Med / Sophia operation to combat human and arms trafficking in the Mediterranean off the coast of Libya, we learned today from the operation's headquarters. He should be particularly in charge of monitoring the arms embargo, according to our information.

This Estienne d'Orves class A69 type aviso had already taken part in the European maritime operation against piracy (EUNAVFOR Atalanta), at least twice: in 2009 (Read: The Greek frigate Nikoforos arrives. EUNAVFOR = 11 boats, 4 planes) and in 2013 (read: Latest piracy news (Dec 1, 2013)).

During this period in the Indian Ocean, he had resumed his national flag to participate in the recovery operation of the sailboat Tanit, hijacked by Somali pirates in April 2009 (read: The pirates celebrate in their own way the succession of EUNAVFOR).

Until recently, he was on an anti-piracy mission in the Gulf of Guinea, as part of the (national) operation Corymb, between August and October 2016, before returning to her home port, Toulon, in early November.

(NGV)