P400 - class patrol vessel The P400 patrol ships are small vessels of the French Navy . They were designed to accomplish police operations in the French Exclusive Economic Zone . They were built by the " Constructions Mécaniques de Normandie " , which specialise in small military craft . Two similar ships are in service in Gabon . The P400 were originally designed in two versions : one armed with Exocet MM38 missiles , and another public service version with a smaller 16 - man complement ; eventually neither of these versions was commissioned as the Navy chose an intermediary version . Most of these craft are pre - positioned in overseas territories ( DOM / TOM ) where they carry out sea monitoring missions and secure the EEZ . They also execute missions in the context of French agreements with other nations , typically supporting foreign armies or carrying out humanitarian missions . Since late 2008 , ships of the " D ' Estienne d ' Orves " class , with their heavy armament removed , are planned to replace the P400 in the high sea patrol role , a task for which the P400 have proved to be underweight . Design . The P400 are fitted with a hydraulic crane capable of lifting 2 . 5 tonnes . This allows to use them for anti - pollution operations , by embarking and debarking equipment and anti - pollution chemicals , and to lift out small craft whilst at sea . An unusual feature for ships of this size , the Operational Centre allows a complete monitoring of close surface situations , using radar indicators and tracking tables . The engine can now be monitored remotely , which allows for a smaller crew . The maintenance of the ship was simplified notably by choosing those solutions which allow to clean the ship whilst in populated areas . The P400 can stay 15 days at sea , and have 20 days of food supplies for 28 men . History . The engines of the P400 have been a constant source of technical problems since the maiden journey of the lead ship " Audacieuse " to Dakar . The first problem that occurred related to the carter reductor , then with the transmission , and eventually with a piston - this last item being the most worrying , since it was probably a symptom of a conception problem . This shed a bad light on Alstom who were trying to compete against German motors by MTU . French humourist Coluche came up with the witty remark " Après l ' Audacieuse , la Boudeuse , la Capricieuse , … voici venu le temps de la Dépanneuse ! " ( After the " Audacieuse " , the " Boudeuse " , the " Capricieuse " , time has come for the " Tow - Truck " ! ) . After these problems were solved , larger exhaust pipes had to be fixed ( originally , exhaust was vented underwater to minimise infra - red signature , but it turned out that the ship was taking water from these openings ) . After further studies , it became possible to gain the space of one propulsion compartment , which is now used for cargo and personnel . The ships can ferry 20 people , and up to 60 for short travel with a calm sea . In May 2009 , " Fougueuse " arrived in Brest to be decommissioned , the first of the P400 to be taken out of service . In February 2011 , it was decided that eight P400 will be equipped with new engines . Previously , these ships were scheduled to retire according to Jane ' s Navy International . They will repair to ensure renewal of their operation until 2020 . Earlier , the French Navy had intended to retire these ships in the period from 2010 to 2014 . The reason for extending the service life of ships of this class is the desire to reduce the cost of procurement of new weapons . Currently the ships are equipped with two Wartsila SACM UD30 V16 M3 diesel engines . The new engines will be delivered to France ' s Mother Boda and installed by " Piriu Naval Service " ( PNS - Piriou Naval Services ) in a 10 - year contract worth €30 million ( US $ 39 million ) . The first of the modernised ships should be returned to the French Navy by March 2011 . PNS also undertakes restoration of these ships . One of the decommissioned vessels , the " " La Tapaguese " " , will be transferred to the Philippine Coast Guard . Worth about €6 million , " La Tapaguese " will first undergo refurbishment in France , and will be delivered to the Philippines around April 2014 as part of that country ' s improvement of its maritime defence system . Replacements . The French Navy is currently looking into a future class of patrol vessels to replace the P400s as they retire . The working name for this future class is BATSIMAR ( " Bâtiments de surveillance et d ' intervention maritime " , or ' surveillance and maritime intervention ships ' in English ) .