VESSEL REVIEW | Calidris – Coastal monitoring boat for French environmental enforcement agency

The French Office for Biodiversity (Office Français de la Biodiversité; OFB), the main French Government agency responsible for enforcing environmental and wildlife policies, has placed a new monitoring vessel into service in the coastal waters of northern France.

Named after a local variety of sandpiper, Calidris is the fifth vessel of its type to be built for OFB by local shipbuilder Merre. It is being operated out of the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer alongside two other OFB boats in the waters of the Estuaires Picards and Mer d'Opale Marine Nature Park along the English Channel coast of the Côte d'Opale region.

Compact multi-role platform for suitable for nearshore waters

The vessel’s primary functions will include law enforcement, fisheries surveillance, recovery of discarded fishing gear, dive support, pollution control, monitoring and observation, particularly of the many plant and animal species within the nature reserve. It may also be operated as a search and rescue platform in support of other local agencies.

The all-aluminium Calidris has a length of 12 metres (39 feet), a beam of 3.85 metres (12.6 feet), and space for up to eight crewmembers and other personnel. Two 223kW (300hp) outboard engines deliver a top speed of 30 knots and a cruising speed of 20 knots.

The boat itself can operate up to 20 nautical miles out from the nearest shelter, allowing it to navigate offshore for extended periods.

Exterior areas laid out to facilitate dive support and environmental observation

A wide aft platform is available for use as a dive transom, while the spacious main cabin/wheelhouse will provide protection from the elements, thus enabling year-round operation in the Channel.

The cabin roof is fitted with a platform from where OFB personnel can monitor birds and marine mammals as well as observe the surface of the water for any floating rubbish for later retrieval and disposal.

The wheelhouse also features reverse-angled windscreens to reduce glare.

A net and a line tuner will enable the crew to recover discarded fishing gear and to perform close-up inspections of nets, traps and pots.

Located at the stern is a gantry crane with a winch for lifting loads up to 150 kg. The crane will also be used for deployment and recovery of bottles, plankton nets, microplastic nets, and sediment sample containers.