Tuesday, June 17, 2008

French Navy invited to Pirates Lair in Kota Kinabalu


French flagship FNS Var, headed by Commander Axel Moracchini pays a goodwill visit to Kota Kinabalu on June 24, 2008 to promote friendship and cooperation between the Malaysia and France. It is accompanied by FNS Dupuy de Lome.

Supply and flagship VAR
With a length of 158m, width of 22m and draft of 9m, it has a maximum displacement of 17,900 tons. It is outfitted with high standard equipment such as helicopters designed for operations at sea. Var is also a replenishment tanker and can simultaneously supply three other ships of heavy loads of food, equipment and ammunition. It has a crew of 157 personnel including 14 officers.
The ship carries Vice Admiral GĂ©rard Valin, commander of the French forces in the maritime zone of the Indian Ocean, Alindien*. He is assisted by a joint staff of 36 crewmembers headed by Captain Jean-Louis Lozier.
Embarked onboard the “Var”, this staff regularly conducts several operations such as the one targeting the liberation of thirty hostages - among them six coming from the Philippines - held onboard cruise ship « Le Ponant ». The staff has planned and organized this mission when “Var” was off Somali coasts, close to the hijacked ship.


The Pirates of Borneo will welcome and entertain fellow shipmates at The Pirates Bar and the Aussie Bar on Kota Kinabalu Waterfront as well as Barcelona Tapas and Cava in Warwisan Square.


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