French Navy Frigate Intercepts 2 vessels in French EEZ off Scattered Islands in Indian Ocean

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Naval Forces News - France
 
 
 
French Navy Frigate Intercepts 2 vessels in French EEZ off Scattered Islands in Indian Ocean
 
On 9 September 2013, Frigate Nivôse (Floreal class) of the French Navy Indian Ocean fleet homeported in Reunion Island, intercepted two vessels in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of Europa, one of the French Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean between Africa and Madagascar.
     
On 9 September 2013, Frigate Nivôse (Floreal class) of the French Navy Indian Ocean fleet and homeported in Reunion Island, intercepted two vessels in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of Europa, one of the French Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean off Mozambique.
The French Navy Frigate Nivôse (Floreal class) intercepts the Pacific Falcon in the French exclusive economic zone off Europa Island.
Picture: French Navy
     
Returning from a naval exercise conducted with the navies of South Africa and Mozambic, the Floreal class frigate detected two vessels operating in the EEZ without permission from the French authorities:
- A research vessel flying Singapore flag, the Pacific Falcon, conducting seismic surveys for oil exploration,
- And the Storm West, a Norwegian-flagged trawler, ensuring its safety.

The research vessel was intercepted by the Nivôse. Its visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) team conducted an inspection onboard the Pacific Falcon. The two vessels have been ordered to cease all survey activity and leave as soon as possible the French EEZ through the shortest route. Both vessels complied immediately with the instructions, under the firm monitoring of the French Frigate.
     
On 9 September 2013, Frigate Nivôse (Floreal class) of the French Navy Indian Ocean fleet and homeported in Reunion Island, intercepted two vessels in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of Europa, one of the French Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean off Mozambique.
The Nivôse VBSS team is winched down from a Panther helicopter to inspect the Pacific Falcon
Picture: French Navy
     
The VBSS team, hoisted in the late afternoon onboard the Pacific Falcon, returned aboard Nivôse with elements that will allow French Authorities to pursue administrative procedures against these ships. During the inspection, the ship's captain was not able to present the paperwork allowing it to carry out research by seismic reflection "off the Mozambican coast."
     
On 9 September 2013, Frigate Nivôse (Floreal class) of the French Navy Indian Ocean fleet and homeported in Reunion Island, intercepted two vessels in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of Europa, one of the French Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean off Mozambique.
The Nivôse VBSS team is winched down from a Panther helicopter to inspect the Pacific Falcon
Picture: French Navy
     
The French Navy Indian Ocean Fleet mission is to protect the national territory, strategic facilities and maintain the security, ensure the prevention and protection of the interests of France in its area of responsibility against all forms of foreign aggression. Their mission is also to support the action of the French State and contribute to conditions of stability and development of local communities through the implementation of military means to assert French sovereignty. In a crisis, they are able to lead or participate in a military operation and / or conduct emergency operations (humanitarian assistance, natural disasters).

The Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean (French: Îles Éparses or Îles éparses de l'océan indien) consist of four small coral islands, an atoll, and a reef in the Indian Ocean, and constitutes the 5th district of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF). France claims an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 200 nautical miles (370 km) around each of the small islands in the Îles Éparses, which together with the EEZ claims for the islands of Réunion and Mayotte totals more than one million square kilometres (400,000 sq mi) in the western Indian Ocean.

Translated from a French Navy press release
     
On 9 September 2013, Frigate Nivôse (Floreal class) of the French Navy Indian Ocean fleet and homeported in Reunion Island, intercepted two vessels in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of Europa, one of the French Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean off Mozambique.
Picture: Central Intelligence Agency's World Factbook