New research and supply vessel christened in Concarneau

On July 12, 2017, the "Astrolabe" was christened at the Piriou shipyard in Concarneau. The ceremony to name the vessel of the French Southern and Antarctic Territories (TAAF), took place with the presence of the director of the Polar Institutem Paul-Emile Victor, representants of the French Navy and Annick Girardin, the Minister of Overseas. Ordered in June 2015, the "Astrolabe", which leaves Concarneau for Brest on July 13, will be officially delivered to the island of Réunion in early September. The ship cost of 50 million euros and replaces two vessels, the patrol boat "Albatros" of the French Navy, which carried out missions of sovereignty and surveillance in the southern seas, and the logistic ship "L'Astrolabe", chartered by the TAAF and the IPEV, which assured the supply of the French Antarctic bases in Terre Adélie. It was built as part of an unprecedented partnership, initiated in 2014 by the French Navy, the TAAF and the IPEV.