CNIM to deliver new LCUs to the French Navy
On Monday, CNIM announced that it had been selected by the Marine Nationale (French Navy) to provide, together with its partners SOCARENAM, MAURIC and CNN MCO, 14 new Landing Craft Utility (LCU) vehicles – Engins de Débarquement Amphibie Standards (EDA-S). These will be built over ten years.
Eight EDA-S will come to replace the ageing CTM (Chalands de Transport Materiel – transport barges) with the amphibious fleet in Toulon (FLOPHIB). Together with four EDA-R (Engins de Débarquement Amphibie Rapide), also built by CNIM, these new ships will be on board the ‘Mistral’ class amphibious assault ships. The other six EDA-S will be deployed to the French overseas territories to replace ageing logistics vessels currently in service in Djibouti, Mayotte, Nouméa, Fort-de-France and Kourou.
These vessels will transport troops, equipment or vehicles of the Armed Forces and may be involved in logistical operations depending on their location. They will also be able to participate in the evacuation of nationals and the recovery of airlifted equipment for humanitarian missions.
The first two ships are scheduled for delivery by the end of 2020.
AV