In Townsville is the French amphibious warship FS Dixmude (L905) which with the frigate FS La Fayette (F710) is taking part in Mission Jean d 'Arc circumnavigating the globe .
Named after a former helicopter cruiser , which served as a training ship for the French naval acadamy , the mission , an annual deployment, set out from Toulon on February 8 , involving 790 naval and army personnel ,including 160 naval cadets .
It involves 12 ports of call , participation in amphibious or ground exercises. (Photograph by Sara .)
