Nearly a year after the controversy over the Chinese intelligence gathering vessel Yuan Wang 5 docking at Hambantota Port, SIGINT (Signal Intelligence) collection French vessel Dupuy de Lôme arrived at the Port of Colombo on a formal visit yesterday morning (21st).

The visiting ship was welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy in accordance with naval tradition.

The vessel’s last port of call was Djibouti.

Dupuy de Lôme is a 102.40m – long

Electromagnetic Research Vessel, with a crew of 107. The ship is commanded by Commander Augustin Blanchet. The vessel is scheduled to leave Colombo on 27.

The Chinese vessel’s visit last year caused controversy against the backdrop of accusations and claims that Wang class ships were used to track satellite, rocket and launch of intercontinental ballistic missiles. (SF)