Richards Bay naval exercise

Apr 6, 2003
Author: P&S

A joint naval exercise involving units of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) including the SA Navy, and French Navy ships and personnel are conducting exercises at the port of Richards Bay this week (staring Saturday 5 April).

The ships involved are the French landing vessel FNS La Grandiere (9034) which on Saturday conducted landing exercises on Naval Island situated in the midst of Richards Bay harbour. The island offers unique facilities including tropical beaches and forested area.

Other ships due from Monday (7 April) are the French patrol frigate Nivose (F732) and the South African logistics ship SAS Outeniqua (A302) which were due in port at the weekend.

The joint humanitarian relief exercise has been dubbed ‘Rainbow Trek’ and includes about 500 members of the French armed forces normally based at La Reunion.