In service since 1991, the PSP Arago, based in Papeete, undertakes fisheries surveillance and maintains maritime order in this region. The ship’s annual technical stop started on 10 January 2024 and was completed at the end of March. The work carried out will allow the Arago to remain operational until the delivery of the first of two Overseas patrol boats (POM) which will ultimately replace this vessel. This is the fourth time that the SSF PF has entrusted Naval Group with this annual technical stop. Maintenance work is simultaneously being carried out on the four overseas support and assistance vessels (BSAOM) based in Martinique, New Caledonia, Polynesia and Reunion Island as part of the contract awarded to Naval Group and Piriou Naval Services in January 2023. With this new project, Naval Group reasserts its position as a major actor in the ISS carried out in French Overseas Territories, where it has been present for the past ten years.
A solid network of local partners
Naval Group relies on local subcontractors with whom teams in Papeete have forged a strong, trust-based relationship. The group has also put a flexible organisation in place to respond quickly and appropriately to requests made by the SSF PF. The local Superintendent coordinates work on site and between the various parties involved - subcontractors, sailors and technicians in military workshops. He is supported by the Overseas platform back office in Brest, where the Program Director works with a dedicated team combining engineering, supply chain and program management skills. The work carried out on the Arago for this 2024 technical stop mainly involved sheet metal and painting works in addition to cleaning freshwater tanks, pumping and degassing diesel fuel tanks, as well as work undertaken by the crew - such as engine inspections - in collaboration with military workshops.
Develop Overseas activities - our ambition
Didier, the Program Director, explains, “When a ship has been operational for nearly 35 years, you’re invariably confronted with unforeseen issues and this made it challenging to keep to schedule on this technical stop. Agility around our organisation allowed us to rapidly satisfy the customer’s additional requests. Moreover, Naval Group’s skill pool is one of the company’s strengths. For example, our current Production Supervisor is from the multimission frigate program (FREMM).
The fact that we have a dedicated support team in Brest gives us the autonomy and latitude needed to provide the necessary support and respond rapidly to the needs of the various worksites in progress. We have the capability and will to further develop our Overseas activities”.