The Vendemiaire, a surveillance frigate of the French Navy stopped over in Nuku'alofa on Friday, while on a regular maritime surveillance of the South Pacific waters.

Commander Fred Benon said the frigate had two annual surveillance missions, one in international waters and the other in the South Pacific.

"Our mission is also one of diplomatic action because to us we are reinforcing the presence of French territories as a nation in the Pacific," he said.

Their month long surveillance mission in the South Pacific takes the Vendemiaire to Tuvalu, Tonga, Niue, Nauru, Wallis and Futuna, and Samoa.

The 2,300 tonnes frigate is based in Noumea, New Caledonia, and has a crew of 92 officers and sailors, 12 of whom are women. Its capability includes two surface-to-surface missiles, one 100mm gun and two 200mm guns with air surface radar. The frigate is also a large endurance ship, meaning it can be in the waters for up to 50 days without refueling.



The name 'Vendemiaire' means September in French, the month of grape harvest in the French republican calendar of the 18th century.

This is the second time that the Vendemiaire has visited Nuku'alofa. The frigate leaves on Monday, November 3 for Niue.