Pictured is the French frigate Prairial, the sister ship and same Floréal-class warship as the Vendémiaire, which was sighted in New Zealand waters. Photo / Getty Images
Pictured is the French frigate Prairial, the sister ship and same Floréal-class warship as the Vendémiaire, which was sighted in New Zealand waters. Photo / Getty Images
The French Embassy has provided fresh details today after the Coastguard came across one of the European country’s warships in the Hauraki Gulf.
Radio silence from authorities and embassy officials about why the armed navy vessel was located earlier this month within New Zealand’s 12 nautical mile territorial limit had sparked speculation as to what it was doing here.
However, the French Embassy says FS Vendémiaire was simply conducting sea trials after undergoing maintenance in Auckland and that its presence in domestic waters had been notified to New Zealand authorities.
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins was blindsided today when the Herald asked him what the ship - which is fitted with a 100mm artillery turret, and two mounted 20mm guns - was doing off Auckland’s coast.
Stunned Coastguard crew came across the ship during the search for a stricken yacht. The French frigate responded to the mayday call and used its radar to help locate the distressed vessel.
The 94-metre frigate is not nuclear-powered and does not carry nuclear weapons. It is part of the French Pacific fleet and is usually based in New Caledonia.
The New Zealand Defence Force [NZDF] has refused to answer questions about the nature of the ship’s visit, directing inquiries to the French Embassy, which has remained silent until today.
Hipkins said he had no knowledge of the ship’s visit during a media standup this morning. His office later provided a statement saying the FS Vendémiaire regularly visited New Zealand, and that the latest visit “was done with the full knowledge of the NZDF and was approved by MFAT”.
Hipkins’ office said the French ship was not involved in any joint exercises, “but for specifics about the Vendémiaire’s programme you would need to speak with the French Embassy”.
Stunned Coastguard crew discovered the French warship in the Hauraki Gulf during the search for a stricken yacht. Photo / File
After questions from the Herald, the embassy released a statement this afternoon saying the ship was completing sea trials after two months of maintenance at a Devonport shipyard before returning to her home port in Noumea.
“Like for any port visit, this long presence in New Zealand has been notified to the New Zealand authorities,” deputy press attaché Clarisse Christie said.
“The presence of FS Vendémiaire in the Hauraki Gulf was normal as the gulf is in front of Auckland.”
Christie said Coastguard crew “may have been surprised” to encounter a warship in the area, but the frigate’s actions in responding to the mayday call helped identify a weak but sufficient radar echo on the distressed boat.
“Safeguarding life at sea is part of the DNA of every single seaman and FS Vendémiaire is proud of having been able to help in this difficult operation. She has completed her sea trials and has left New Zealand.”
Stuff reported that the ship last visited in 2009 when it conducted a joint training exercise with the New Zealand Navy as well as diplomatic duties.
It is designed as a surveillance vessel, patrolling French overseas maritime areas and its exclusive economic zone.
