A French Navy ship, Foudre will dock at the Tema Harbour on December 31, as part of its regular missions along the West Coast of Africa. The Ship is fitted with the largest shipboard medical facility in the French Navy and is equivalent to a 60,000 people city hospital.
A statement issued by the French Embassy in Accra said the ship, which was commissioned in December 1980, under the command of Captain Christian Canova has a crew of 17 officers, 205 petty officers and seamen of which 20 per cent are women.
The ship, capable of landing and supporting a mechanised armoured regiment, can accommodate four super Puma helicopters and 470 passengers or troops the statement added. The ship, which is 168 metres long and 22 metres wide would depart on Saturday January 4, 2003.
