Sepec takes over its new ‘green’ coastal tanker |30 October 2009

The small coastal tanker, which was launched on August 14, has spent the last two months at the shipyard in Kiel, Germany, having its main deck fitted to the hull.

A sea trial was carried out last week involving the Seychellois crew, senior Sepec staff – who will work closely with the vessel – and suppliers of key components for the tanker. All the design parameters were met and even surpassed.

The Seychelles Paradise has been specially designed to be environmentally friendly, having a double hull, high manoeuvrability and being equipped with other features to ensure safe transport of oil products in Seychelles’ exclusive economic zone.

The high manoeuvrability is achieved by specially designed twin rudders, propellers and a powerful bow thruster, allowing it to rotate upon itself.

The tanker will be used mainly to carry various oil products to Sepec’s depot on Eve Island, Praslin. Liquid petroleum gas (LPG) will be carried in specialised tanks fitted on the deck.
 
The new depot will support the fast-growing economy of Praslin and its satellite islands.  LPG cylinders will no longer be transported from Mahe to these islands as the Praslin depot will have its own LPG bottling plant.

President James Michel has hailed the delivery of the Seychelles Paradise as “another milestone which marks Seychelles’ leadership, both in the trade of petroleum products and in environmental protection”.

“We are proud to add the Seychelles Paradise to our fleet of world class tankers,” he said.

“It will operate much closer to home and will go a long way to improving the transport of such products within our waters. We congratulate Sepec and all its staff on this achievement, which is also symbolic of the spirit of innovation that is critical to our nation’s success.”

The vessel will also function as a bunker tanker for ships calling in Seychelles, as well as a “training ship” for Seychellois cadets under the Sepec tanker training programme.
 
It will not only be able to bunker large vessels that cannot now berth at the New Port but  will also refuel smaller vessels offshore, reducing maritime traffic in the inner harbour.

The Seychelles Paradise will leave Kiel on Monday November 2, crewed by a team of Seychellois and two expatriates for its first international journey. 

The tanker is expected in Seychelles in December, when it will start its domestic operations with an all-Seychellois crew.