The ''Abeille Flandre'' was an ocean tug, in service with the French Navy from December 1979 until 2022. She is the property of the French private company Abeilles International. She was based at Toulon on the Mediterranean coast. Before she was replaced by

Abeille Bourbon ''Abeille Bourbon'' is a high seas emergency tow vessel (salvage tug), long with a tractive power of , a crew of 12, designed by Norwegian naval architect Sigmund Borgundvåg. She was christened by Bernadette Chirac on 13 April 2005 in the pre ...

, she was based at Brest, where she assisted maritime traffic off the coast of Brittany. She was able to go to sea at 20 minutes' notice, and would also go to sea whenever winds in excess of were recorded at Ouessant. She was replaced on this station in April 2005 by the more powerful, 80-metre ''

''. French rescue tugs on government contracts operate under the authority of a ''

préfet maritime A maritime prefect ( French: ''Préfet maritime'') is a servant of the French State who exercises authority over the sea in a particular region under French jurisdiction, known as a maritime arrondissement (''Arrondissement maritime''). His admini ...

''. If a salvage is successful, the French state earns half the value of the salvaged cargo. When the vessel is not required for government service, its operator can request the préfet to release it to perform private salvage and rescue missions. Rates for private salvages are negotiated on a case-by-case basis. Fees are never charged to rescue people. Following her salvage role in the sinkings of the '' Erika'' and the ''

Ievoli Sun ''Ievoli Sun'' was a chemical tanker chartered by Napolitan ship-owner Domenico Ievoli. On 31 October 2000, she sank at , approximately off the Casquets in the English Channel, with a 6,000-ton load, including 4,000 tons of styrene, 1,000 tons ...

'', the ''Abeille Flandre'' gained recognition and public popularity in France. Hervé Hamon's book ''L'Abeille d'Ouessant'' is a homage to the ship. The ''Abeille Flandre'' livery includes the angled blue-white-red stripes of a French ship in public service. She was featured in the Discovery Channel documentary ''Wild and Angry Seas'', released in August 2003.

External links

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''Abeille Flandre''
at Netmarine.net *
''Abeille Flandre arrives in Brest to be dismantled''
at Le Télégramme Auxiliary ships of France Tugboats of France 1978 ships {{France-mil-ship-stub