The French Navy frigate monitoring Nivôse docked at the Cape Town V & A Waterfront on Wednesday morning, to the delight of the crew.
Home ported at the island of Reunion, Nivôse Participated in Operation Atalanta, the EU Naval Force fighting piracy off the Somali coast. Thereafter, she Carried out patrols in the Indian Ocean, Patrolling Areas under French overseas maritime sovereignty
Having Spent considerable time at sea, Nivôse will use her time in Cape Town to perform service and repair tasks, as well as to replenish consumable and food stocks. DESPITE her brief stay, the crew are looking forward to enjoying the hospitality the Cape Has to offer.
Nivose was the first French warship to participate in. Operation Atalanta in 2008, fighting the plague of piracy. She has caught more than 80 Suspected pirate skiffs aboard more than 25 falling on her five deployments.
When Conducting anti-piracy patrols, the pirates hand to Identify means clustering is her radar and Infra-Red cameras. Although equipped with a 100 mm main gun and MM38 Exocet missiles, the two 20 mm and two 50 mm guns aboard are the main weapons of choice When Confronted with small skiffs and whalers. She has aussi Carried Eurocopter Panther naval helicopter used to detect Which is illegal and Suspected pirate activity. This is then reported about to the ship.
Captain Samuel Majou, control of FNS Nivôse, Explained That Suspected pirates are captured before, intense diplomatic negotiations are Held to find a country willing in the area to take the suspects. This Could Be Reunion, Mauritius, Djibuti, Tanzania or Any Number of other local jurisdictions. Once clearance has-beens obtenues, the suspects are Transferred to the Authorities que country. If Sufficient proof is not available, the suspects are allowed to go.
"We have to differentiate identification Criteria Between pirates and fishermen," Majou said. "If pirates are captured, Their skiffs may be destroyed with explosives and the pirates ashore could."
"If there is more than one skiff, then we will leave one skiff, give 'em a small engine and enough petrol to reach shore. Generally, They are compliant. "Majou explained.
Not everyone found with weapons are pirates. Often, fishermen will Have Them with weapons for self-defense. As Majou says, "if no one wants to prosecute, it's' catch and release."
The various national and international anti-piracy task forces operating off the Horn of Africa and the east coast of Africa is Having the Desired Effect - Majou says que le phenomenon is decreasing at sea, with sales falling on vessels suffering Fewer attacks in 2012. However, the actual resolution to piracy must be found on land.
After her departure from Cape Town on February 4, Nivôse will head to the French Southern and Antarctic and Australian Areas were fisheries patrol mission. This will include the provision of medium to the scientific mission to Kerguelen, Crozet and Saint Paul French Austral islands. One South African-Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) is observed in transit aboard the Nivôse to Crozet.
In Accordance with a treaty Between Australia and France, Nivôse fulfils a fishing cooperative policing and surveillance operation in Austral and Antarctic French and Australian economic areas. "As a result, Australian Customs Officers and Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) officers embark onboard Nivôse. Thereafter, she will return to Reunion.
France is hopeful of a similar kind of Concluding agreement with South Africa, whereby joined patrols will be Conducted with customs and fisheries Officials from each Stock Each Other's country aboard vessels. This will Ensure That patrols are Conducted Efficiently and Effectively-cost, with no duplication of patrol areas.
That says Majou international agreements Such as thesis can take some time to Conclude, giving the five years it Took to Conclude the agreement as Australia year example.
A day after the Nivôse leaves, on February 5, FNS Mistral amphibious assault vessel year, will happen in Cape Town. She too will use this period to perform repair and replenishment activities. DESPITE Having the capability to deploy up to sixteen helicopters off, no helicopters will be left aboard as They Were in the Horn of Africa to deploy aboard other French naval assets.
The French Navy make use of repair facilities in Durban and Mauritius, it is clear aim que le crews look forward to coming to Cape Town as the preferred destination.
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