The French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) accepted Dumont d’Urville on April 5th 2019, the 4th and last Overseas Support and Assistance Vessel (previously ranged as multi mission vessel) ordered in January 2017 to Kership, the joint venture between Piriou and Naval Group.

This new vessel of the French Navy, currently based in Brest (Brittany) will have home port in Martinique (French West Indies).

D’Entrecasteaux 1st BSAOM has been operating in Noumea (New Caledonia) since July 2016. Bougainville, 2nd vessel of the series has been based in Papeete (French Polynesia) since December 2016. The 3rd unit –Champlain– reached homeport in Port-des-Galets (La Reunion island) in the summer 2017.

Source: extract from DGA press release_12.04.19