On 1 January 2014, French Antarctic will issue a stamp depicting a French patrol boat named “Le Malin”.
Put on slipway on December 21st, 1994 at Olensvaag (Norway), Le Malin was launched in January 1997, as Caroline Glacial.
Today State patrol boat, this ship however began her life as longliner, fishing the toothfish. The toothfish, being a protected fish, Caroline Glacial worked illegally!
She began her career as a smuggler in the Antarctic, operating under flags of convenience (Panama, Honduras). Passing from one ship-owner to another, the ship was sold in 2003 and 2004, and renamed successively America No1 then Apache .
During June 2004, the southern patrol craft Albatross, intercepted her and, from August 2004 to November 2007, several trials in criminal courts of Saint- Denis, Reunion, Courts of Appeal and Supreme court, concluded that the vessel be confiscated on behalf of the French State.
Apache was in perfect condition, recent, modern and robust. The French Navy wanted to integrate the ship in the fleet.
In September 2004, Apache was renamed Le Malin, after the destroyer ( 1931-1964 ) which was distinguished during World War II and Indochina . Therefore referred to Building Support Assistant (BSA).
After staying in the pool in Mauritius, where it is particularly repainted white island , he joined Toulon, March 13, 2006 . It then examines firstly, to transform building support commandos to replace the BSNC Poseidon, but this idea was abandoned both for technical reasons and for reasons of economy .
From December 2010 to August 2011, during a technical stop to the Piriou yard in Concarneau, she is transformed into military patrol craft.
In October 25, 2011 the Malin finally joined, Port- of - Rollers ( Reunion Island ) as the new base port. In the southern zone of the Indian Ocean, it now takes a patrol missions similar to P400 type which it replaces.
Dimensions: 49.99 (43.60 between pp) X 10.70 X 4.8 meters
Depth: 5.00 meters
Displacement: 861.32 tons (before recasting);
Gross tonnage: 1,146 UMS
Armament 2 machine-guns of 12.7 mm
Crew 2 officers, 9 petty officers, 5 leading seamen and sailors
Capacity of bed 42 (cabins: 2 individual, 10 doubles, 5 quadruple)
Energy/Propulsion 1 diesel engine Caterpillar 3606 1730 KW; 1 propeller HPOR, number of usual revolutions 720 tr/min 1 bow thruster 220 KW
Power: 1900KW with 900 rpm
Electric Factory: 1 664 KW alternator; 2 diesel-alternators Caterpillar 3408 MT, 375 KW
Speed 12 knts
Electronic equipment 2 radars Furuno FR2110 & FR2155; 2 autopilots; 1 radio operator Taiyo goniometer; 1 gyrocompass Robertson; 3 VHF; 3 GPS
Source: http://netmarine.net/bat/patrouil/malin/index.htm
Information from Jean-Louis Araignon.