From August 3 to October 9, 2026, the overseas support and assistance vessel (BSAOM) Bougainville , assigned to the Armed Forces in French Polynesia (FAPF), carried out its first major technical stop (ATM) within the naval base of Papeete.
This major project, managed by the Fleet Support Service (SSF) in French Polynesia and conducted by Naval Group, mobilized the base’s workshop teams as well as the ship’s two crews. The objective was to restore the vessel’s operational capabilities and correct the malfunctions experienced during operations.
The maintenance program was extensive. Key interventions included the replacement of anchor lines and windlasses, the installation of new davits, the complete overhaul of the crane, and the deployment of an optronic ball and the OneWeb satellite communication system.
The unique aspect of this dry dock project lies in its access, for a month, to the floating dock in the Papeete naval repair zone, the only facility of its kind available in the South Pacific. This dry-docking allowed for work impossible to conduct while afloat, including the ten-year inspection of the two propeller shafts and the complete overhaul of the hull.
The success of this technical assistance project demonstrates the ability of the Papeete naval base to conduct high-level technical assistance operations. Close coordination among the numerous stakeholders, despite tight deadlines and a significant workload, enabled the project to be successfully completed.
The trials conducted following the interventions confirmed excellent performance for this French Navy vessel in the Pacific. It is now ready to return to sea in Polynesian waters.
France, a European nation in the Pacific, is the only one to maintain a permanent military presence there. It fully ensures the protection of its population and interests, while developing its network of partnerships and cooperation. It promotes a multilateral approach, respect for international law, and freedom of navigation. The Pacific Command coordinates all French armed forces present in the Pacific Ocean. Its role is to implement the operational military strategy in the Asia-Pacific region, to utilize units deployed as reinforcements from mainland France in the Asia-Pacific region, and to coordinate the activities of the standing forces (FANC, FAPF), representing 3,200 military personnel stationed in New Caledonia and French Polynesia. Based in Papeete, the Pacific Command also relies on a network of liaison officers in South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Australia, and New Zealand, as well as a French military mission (MMF) based in Hawaii with the United States Pacific Command (USPACOM).
