SEMT Pielstick
The five ships are of similar design but different layouts. "Durance" and "Meuse" had a standard displacement of and at full load. "Marne", "Var" and "Somme" have a standard displacement of and at full load. All five ships are long overall and between perpendiculars with a beam of and a draught of empty and at full load. All five vessels are powered by two SEMT Pielstick 16 PC2.5 V 400 diesel engines turning two LIPS controllable pitch propellers rated at . The vessels have a maximum speed of and a range of at .