#FrenchNavyOPV - PSP Cormoran (P677) a French Navy 'Flamant' class offshore patrol vessel which acted as 'guard' ship during the Solitaire du Figaro Race stopover to Dun Laoghaire Harbour in 2011, is currently berthed in Dublin Port, writes Jehan Ashmore.
The 23 knot OPV is equipped with two 12.7mm machine guns and is on a five-day call to the capital. Initially she anchored in Dublin Bay on Thursday night and this was followed by yesterday's morning rendezvous with a pilot cutter. The OPV is berthed at Sir John Rogersons Quay, alongside berth 8 which is towards the city-centre end of the south quays.
The prestigious yet arduous Figaro race three years ago involved four-stages 1,695 nautical miles/ 3,390kms. During the two legs to and from Ireland, the 447 tonnes PSP Cormoran escorted the forty sailors, monitored the race, provided communications and offered a SAR role.
For such purposes, the 56m long vessel is equipped with a rapid response high speed RIB-craft which can be easily deployed from an internal dock-well at the stern. Otherwise the RIB is used to board fishing vessels as part of fishery monitoring duties and patrolling in the French Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) which extends to 200 nautical miles or 370kms.
The OPV was built by Constructions Mécaniques de Normandie in Cherbourg. It is understood that she had departed the port and her visit is unusual given the majority of foreign naval visits are generally made during the summer.