On August 25, 2025, the overseas patrol vessel (POM) Auguste Techer joined the Armed Forces of the Southern Indian Ocean Zone (FAZSOI) in Réunion, marking the end of its first long deployment.
The aim of this deployment was to allow the crew to finalize the takeover of the vessel and to carry out a large part of the phase 1 military characteristics checks (VCM) before the official acceptance of the vessel by the French Navy. Built in mainland France and named in tribute to a sailor from Réunion, this new generation vessel strengthens the maritime capabilities of the FAZSOI .
After being fitted out in Boulogne-sur-Mer and undergoing several months of sea trials off the coast of Brittany, the POM Auguste Techer left mainland France in early July for its home port. Its long transit was marked by its first crossing of the equatorial line and a stopover in South Africa, an area rarely visited by Navy vessels, which allowed the vessel’s seaworthiness to be tested in harsh weather conditions.
The vessel’s main missions will be the surveillance of French maritime areas, the fight against illicit trafficking, the protection of fisheries, as well as support for maritime rescue operations and humanitarian interventions. With its increased autonomy and capabilities compared to the P400 patrol boats it replaces , it represents a major reinforcement of the fleet deployed in the area.
The official welcoming ceremony was held on August 25 at the Port in the presence of civil and military authorities, as well as the families of the crew, who greeted with emotion the arrival of this ship bearing the name of a local boy, a former Companion of the Liberation.
The POM Auguste Techer is the third POM delivered to the overseas territories after the POM Auguste Bénébig in Nouméa and the POM Teriieroo a Teriierooiterai in Papeete .
The Armed Forces in the Southern Indian Ocean (FAZSOI) carry out a wide range of missions in a permanent area of responsibility with significant elongations. From Mayotte and Réunion, more than 1,700 soldiers ensure the protection of the population, protect exclusive economic zones, and combat piracy and illicit trafficking. The FAZSOI frequently support State action missions at sea and implement France’s military partnerships with countries in southern Africa and the southern Indian Ocean.