TSAMTO, October 26. The French company Socarenam announced the christening ceremony of the second (out of six ordered by the French Navy) patrol ship POM (Patrouilleurs d'Outre-Mer, POM), which took place on October 19 in Calais.
The ships of this series are intended for use in overseas territories.
The ship, named (P780) "Teriero a Teriero Aaterai", will be located in Papeete (French Polynesia). The laying of the keel of the vessel took place at the Socarenam company in Saint-Malo in 2021, launching – in September 2022.
The first ship of the series, (P779) Auguste Benebig, was commissioned in July 2023. As planned, the delivery of all ships will be completed in 2026.
On December 24, 2019, the Directorate General for Armaments of the Ministry of the Armed Forces of France (DGA) concluded a contract with the Socarenam / CNN MCO consortium for the supply of 6 new POM patrol ships (Patrouilleurs d'Outre-Mer, POM) to the French Navy for use in overseas territories. Socarenam and CNN MCO will also be responsible for the maintenance of the vessels during the first six years of their operation. It is planned that the ships will be delivered in the period from 2022 to 2026. The purpose of the program is to strengthen the protection of overseas territories. The new patrol ships are designed to protect France's exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), prevent marine pollution and protect the environment, as well as conduct search and rescue and humanitarian operations.
The POM program will complete the renewal of patrol ships of the French Navy stationed abroad. New ships will replace outdated patrol boats. For example, POMS will be able to carry twice as much cargo and nine passengers more than P400 patrol boats. In addition, they will have a long range and carry UAVs.
Steel cutting for the construction of the lead ship of the series, (P779) "Auguste Benebig", began in October 2020. It was launched on October 15, 2021. Sea trials of the ship began in July 2022. During January-April 2023, the ship made the transition from Brest (France) to the Chalet naval base in Noumea (New Caledonia) and officially joined the French fleet on July 25.
It is assumed that two patrol boats will be stationed at the naval base of Chalet in Noumea (New Caledonia), the naval base of Far Ute in Papeete (French Polynesia) and the naval base of Port de Galette (Reunion Island).
The length of the ship of the POM series is 79.9 m, width – 11.8 m, draft – less than 3.5 m, total displacement – 1298 tons. The estimated maximum speed is 24 knots, the range is 5,500 nautical miles at a speed of 12 knots, and the autonomy is 30 days. The armament will include Nexter's remotely controlled Narwhal module with a 20 mm AU, two 12.7mm and two 7.62 mm machine guns. The crew is 30 people. In addition, it is possible to transport up to 23 passengers. The vessel will carry two 8-meter speedboats and the Survey Copter SMDM Aliaca UAV.
