The French Navy assault ship Mistral (21,000 tons) arrived in Grand Harbour this morning on a short break from operations off Libya. It is the ship's first visit to Malta.

Mistral class vessels can carry up to 16 heavy helicopters as well as landing craft and a marines unit. The ship also has a communications suite enabling it to serve as a headquarters ship.

The Mistral was commissioned in 2006. A sister ship, Tonnerre, followed a year later and a third ship is nearing completion.

A similar ship of the Royal Navy, HMS Ocean, arrived in Malta yesterday.

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