In a week of naval diplomacy for the Colombo Port, the French Navy Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) ship, Dupuy de Lôme (A759) has called on the Port yesterday (21) for a six-day official visit, just days after the Pakistani frigate Pakistan Naval Service Tippu Sultan (F263) was in Port, and while the Indian Navy submarine Indian Naval Service Vagir (S25) is still berthed. 

The visit by the Dupuy de Lôme to Colombo is the first publicly reported visit by a signals intelligence satellite tracking vessel to Sri Lanka since the controversial visit to the Hambantota International Port by the Chinese State owned Yuan Wang 5 (9413054). The visit of the Yuan Wang 5 caused a diplomatic spat between India and Sri Lanka, with the United States also reportedly expressing concern about the visit of the Chinese vessel. Following the departure of the Yuan Wang 5, Sri Lanka decided to review foreign ship visit-related protocols.

Incidentally, the Indian submarine INS Vagir which arrived in Colombo on Monday (19) is expected to depart today (22).

According to the Sri Lanka Navy, during its stay in the country, the crew of the Dupuy de Lôme will visit some of the tourist attractions. The Navy described the Dupuy de Lôme as “a 102.40 metres long electromagnetic research vessel, with a crew of 107”. The ship is commanded by Commander Augustin Blanchet.

Dupuy de Lôme, is thought to be closely linked to and operated by the French Directorate of Military Intelligence (Direction du renseignement militaire, DRM). It was deployed on missions to Syria during the height of the internal conflict and more recently to navigate through the Fomorsa Strait (in 2021) between Taiwan and China.