L’Astrolabe completes first mission to Antarctica

France’s new polar logistics and patrol vessel, delivered by the Piriou shipyard in Concarneau in September this year, completed her first mission to Antarctica in November. The L’Astrolabe, which replaces a vessel more than 30 years old, was specially designed to resupply the French scientific base known as Dumont d’Urville and the Franco-Italian base at Concordia. Both are occupied all year round by teams working on major science and climate research programmes.