The Germinal is a light monitoring frigate ("frégate de surveillance") of the French Marine Nationale. She is the sixth and last ship of her class, and the first French vessel named after Germinal, the 7th month of the Republican Calendar. Her main mission is monitoring traffic in the Northern Sea and respond to ecological emergiencies. In April 2012, Germinal was in New Orleans, LA for the Navy Week celebrations commemorating the War of 1812. Docked at the Esplanade Avenue wharf near two US Navy vessels, she was open for public tours.