[1] The Floréal-class frigates were designed in response to a demand for a cheap warship capable of operating in low threat areas and able to perform general patrol functions.

As a result, the Floréal class were constructed to mercantile standards in the areas of ammunition stowage, helicopter facilities and damage control, which significantly lowered the cost of the vessels.

[3] Nivôse was armed with two Exocet MM38 surface-to-surface missiles in launchers situated centrally atop the midships superstructure.

[3] However, at the end of the missile's life cycle in 2014, the launchers were removed as the French Navy did not intend to replace the capability aboard the ships.

The ship is equipped with DRBV-21C (Mars) air sentry, Racal Decca RM1290 navigation and Racal Decca RM1290 landing radars along with ARBG-1A Saïgon communications intercept, CSF ARBR 16A radar intercept electronic surveillance systems and two Dagaie decoy systems.

[5] After entering service, Nivôse was based at Port des Galets, Réunion to patrol France's Pacific territories.

After taking control of Vedra and heading for Port des Galets, the two ships came upon another vessel, Grand Prince, illegally fishing.

On 27 July 2001, while sailing off the coast of Somalia, Nivôse received a distress call from Diana, which was afire.

The frigate dispatched its helicopter and the 16 crew were rescued of which 15 were transported to the cargo ship Maersk San Jose.

[10] In late 2008, under frigate captain French: capitaine de frégate Jean-Marc Le Quilliec,[11] Nivôse was deployed as part of a European Union expeditionary force, Operation Atalanta, in the Gulf of Aden to fight piracy off Somalia.

On 15 April 2009, she captured eleven pirates 900 km (560 mi) east of Mombasa, and thwarted an attack on the Liberian-registered merchantman Safmarine Asia.

[15][16][17] From 5 to 7 March 2010, joining mission forces from France, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain and Sweden, Nivôse intercepted four mother ships and arrested 35 pirates in three days off Somalia.

[23] In March 2019, the frigate and the amphibious assault ship Tonnerre were sent to Mozambique as part of France's response for humanitarian aid after Typhoon Idai hit the nation.