French frigate makes port call in Manila
MANILA, Philippines — A French Navy ship docked in Manila on Tuesday for a port call as part of its routine mission to demonstrate freedom of navigation.
The Florèal-class light surveillance Vendémiaire will stay in Manila until March 11, the French Embassy said in a media release.
Its visit will also enable interactions between Filipino and French navy officers.
While in the country, crew members of the Vendémiaire will conduct a humanitarian assistance and disaster response training with the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Coast Guard.
The Vendémiaire's last port visit to the Philippines was last year.
The French vessel has an overall length of 93.5 meters, a beam of 14.1 meters and a draft of 4.3 meters. It is equipped with an anti-surface gun, anti-air gun and rapid guns.
This March 8, 2022 photo shows (L to R) Vendémiaire Commander Alain Gaborit, Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, French Ambassador Michèle Boccoz and RAdm Jean-Mathieu Rey. Embassy of France in the Philippines/Released
Upon its arrival last Tuesday, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana toured the French ship along with French Ambassador Michèle Boccoz and Rear Admiral Rey.
Rey, Joint Commander of the French Armed Forces in the Asia-Pacific, was in Manila for a two-day working visit in Manila to meet Filipino military and defense officials.
The French admiral discussed expanding bilateral engagement in humanitarian assistance and the possibility of holding joint patrols with his Filipino counterparts. — Patricia Lourdes Viray
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