Kuttabul learns language of love
2 November 2010 By Michael Brooke
French sailors have been coming to Australia since the adventurer La Perouse in 1788 and this trend continued recently when FNS La Moqueuse (LEUT Francois Nevejans) visited HMAS Kuttabul (Commander Christine Clarke).
La Moqueuse’s port visit from October 15-19 was designed to give her crew some shore relief, while promoting the strong friendship between the RAN and the French Navy, which have common security interests in the region.
The 440-tonne P400-class patrol boat opened her gangway to the public during Kuttabul’s Navy Week open day, which was attended by some 4000 people.
La Moqueuse’s crew of 29 sailors and four officers enjoyed the sights of Sydney and thrilled the locals with their native tongue, which poets call “the language of love”.
La Moqueuse’s CO, LEUT Francois Nevejans, told Navy News that Noumean-based French warships love to visit Australia for national celebrations and training opportunities with the RAN.
“Australia, and especially Sydney, is a great place for us to visit because of the strong relationships between our navies, as we are partners in maritime security in the Pacific,” he said.
“We have many mutual interests in maritime security in the region and this is well demonstrated by our range of joint training activities such as Exercise Croix de Sud.”
During her voyage from Hobart to Sydney, La Moqueuse participated in a PASS-EX with HMA Ships Yarra and Bandicoot near Jervis Bay, which involved navigation and boarding exercises, as well as a very close encounter with some very playful whales.
“The training was extremely beneficial for me and the crew to learn something about how the RAN does business at sea,” LEUT Nevejans said.
La Moqueuse, which translates as ‘the mocker’, is based in Noumea, New Caledonia as part of the French permanent naval fleet in the Pacific Ocean, along with FN Ships Vendemiaire, La Glorieuse, and Jacques Cartier.
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