Sailors from the French patrol vessel, D’entrecasteau, that was in port last week did some clean up work at the monument, with the names of French sailors who were killed in Aasu Bay in 1787.
The vessel was in port for five days and left on Saturday. Dubbed the “Swiss Army knife” of the French Navy, it has a multipurpose mission…law enforcement and logistics, policing illegal fishing, offshore traffic, resource mining, assisting distressed ships, as well as search and rescue.
The vessel—which was also here last year—took on fuel, and officers and crew were able to do some R & R. They also went to Aasu, or Massacre Bay, to remove growth around the monument, which has the names of the 12 French sailors killed in an encounter with Samoans at the bay in the 18th century.
While in port, Captain Lt. Xavier Moulin hosted a cocktail party for local guests. Agents for the French vessel are Swire Shipping.
