The French Navy is to receive four ocean-going support ships under a contract awarded to a joint venture between Piriou shipyards and DCNS, called KERSHIP.

The first two ships will be delivered in 2018, the French Ministry of Defense said. The others, whose order will be confirmed next year, will be delivered in 2019.

The support ships are to replace five support vessels now in service.

"This order, part of the updating process of the 2014-2019 military program law championed by Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, will significantly strengthen the equipment of the Navy," the ministry said.

"This contract supports more than 150 direct jobs over a period of four years in various industrial and high-technology trades. It will see the construction of ships, on-board integration of equipment and overall trials in Brittany, with many subcontracting" companies involved.

The vessels will provide support services to the French Navy fleet -- both in-port and at sea -- and search-and-rescue missions. They will be about 229.7 feet long and displace 2,937 tons.