Captain Vincent Gregoire (left), of the French frigate Ventose, welcomes Prime Minister Bruce Golding (right) aboard. Looking on is French Ambassador Francis Hurtut. They were at a cocktail reception held on the deck at Carib Cement pier, Rockfort, last Monday. - Photos by Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

The Fregate Ventose (the Ventose frigate) rocked gently against Kingston's Carib Cement pier as guests stepped aboard.

On Monday evening, the French military ship was the centre of attention as guests from the diplomatic corps and private sector came out to a reception hosted by the captain and the crew in conjunction with the French Embassy in Jamaica.

Director of Protocol Sandra Grant-Griffiths and daughter Sara.

A crew member blew shrills from a whistle every time another guest arrived and boarded the vessel because all were special guests at this event. Guests mingled on the ship's open deck with captain Vincent Gregoire sampling various treats and brushing up on their French.

Guests included Brazilian Ambassador Cezar Amaral, Mexican Ambassador Leonora Rueda, Spanish Ambassador Jesus Silva, Patrick and Marguerite Lynch, Honorary Consul to Iceland Robert MacMillan, Pierre and Karlene Lemaire along with son Adrian Lemaire, Andrea Bickhoff-Benjamin and Pat Reid.

French Ambassador Francis Hurtut (centre) introduces Captain Vincent Gregoire to Marie-Rose LaFleur, executive director of Alliance Française.