French naval armaments group DCNS sees the solution in a fast, manoeuvrable ninety-metre-(280-foot) long ship, equipped with all the latest surveillance equipment, including drones and rapidly deployed speed boats.

A 15-strong DCNS design team based in Lorient, on the French northwest coast, say their new ship will incorporate the best of civilian and military technology to allow navies to deal effectively with pirates and drug traders or to provide aid to refugees.

To work out what was needed, "we got in touch with marine commandos based in Lorient," said Marc Maynard, head of the project.

Speed is of the essence against pirates like those off the Somali coast who use motherships to deploy fast speedboats to attack their prey and so the new vessel will be able to get two marine units afloat from the rear in about five minutes, Maynard said.

The bridge of the new boat, modified from the company's Gowind corvette, allows all-round, 360-degree visibility, "which for military vessels is unusual," he said, adding: "That for a sailor, can't be overrated."

While the vessel carries a standard 30-calibre canon at the front, the designers have put water canons along the sides. "The idea is to neutralise the pirates," Maynard said.

The ship's helicopter platform can also be used by drones.

"Instead of relying on the helicopter 24 hours a day, you can send up a drone instead, that is the way ahead," said Yannick Bian, one of the designers.

Pilotless drones, increasingly used around the world for both military and civilian missions, are key surveillance resources, transmitting back information and images.

"We were the first in the world to land a drone on a navy ship," Bian noted.

At the same time, the ship has to respect international norms in a grey area and that is why it has a detention area where pirates can be held until being handed over to the relevant authorities.

Another advantage is that the ship, which is still awaiting its first buyer, "can be built anywhere because it is based on a civilian model," Maynard said.

"A lot of navies are interested, in Asia, South America ... France also," he added, without giving further details about specific countries or its cost.

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Brussels (AFP) May 2, 2009
A Portuguese frigate captured 19 Somali pirates after foiling an attack on an oil tanker but released them all, North Atlantic Treaty Organisation officials said Saturday.