Seychelles Coast Guard gets new patrol ship |08 November 2014

Constant is the name of the new patrol ship that has joined the fleet of the Seychelles Coast Guard (SCG) unit of the Seychelles People’s Defence Forces (SPDF).

The ship has been gifted to Seychelles by the government of India and the handing over ceremony took place yesterday morning – exactly five months after the unit witnessed the commissioning of another patrol ship – Etoile – it received from the People’s Republic of China. The coastguards now have four patrol vessels in its fleet measuring more than 40 metres long. The other three are Topaz, Andromache and Etoile. Both La Flèche and Vigilante are over 30 metres long.

Present at the handing over was President James Michel, who is also the Commander in Chief of the SPDF, Vice-President Danny Faure, ministers, Indian high commissioner to Seychelles Sanjay Panda, chief of staff of the Indian navy Admiral R. K. Dhowan, members of the diplomatic corps, Speaker of the National Assembly Patrick Herminie, leader of the opposition in the National Assembly David Pierre, chief of defence forces Brigadier Leopold Payet and other high officials of the government, SPDF and Indian naval force.

President Michel had this to say to the local media: “As I have always said and within the framework of the blue economy, the Indian Ocean is ours and Seychelles lies in the middle of this ocean. Then we have India, which has been an important partner to Seychelles for many years and also forms part of this ocean as its coastline lies in the Indian Ocean. Therefore it is important that we join forces, collaborate together to defend the ocean and benefit from its exploitation.”

The president noted that the partnership between India and Seychelles is a concrete example of how south-south countries, developing countries, can get together to harmonise their positions while at the same time collaborate in defending their interests.

“Today India has given us another patrol ship and this is very important as it will also provide us with the capacity to work better and play our role in maintaining a good level of security in the Indian Ocean maritime space,” said President Michel.

Speaking at the ceremony, the commanding officer of the SCG, Lieutenant Colonel Simon Dine said the patrol ship is designed for multi-purpose jobs and will build up the operational capacity of the coastguards and make their maritime component more and more capable and efficient in protecting and defending the country’s exclusive economic zone.

Admiral R. K. Dhowan said the handing over of naval ship to the Seychelles coastguard is a momentous occasion, marking another milestone in the long and credible bilateral relations between India and Seychelles and will further strengthen the bond of friendship and goodwill between the two countries.

“As you are all aware the seas around us are gaining new-found importance each day because of the linkages of the blue economy. And there is no doubt that the current century is the century of the seas. The Indian Ocean which has emerged as the world’s centre of gravity in the maritime domain, washes the shores of both of our countries and makes us maritime neighbours. Linked to the same tides, currents and winds that connect us,” said the Admiral, adding that people from our two countries have stretched hands across the equator to build regular friendship.

He said the handing over of the ship builds bridges of friendship which will be strengthened further and will pave the way for the opening up of further avenues of cooperation between the Indian navy and the SPDF.

Speaking about the challenges in the maritime domain, the Admiral said they are at the same time wide and varied, citing as examples drug and human trafficking, illegal fishing and poaching.

The Admiral noted that India and Seychelles being two maritime nations, over the years both the Indian navy and the Seychelles defence forces have joined to forge initiatives to secure the seas around them.

He added as Constant joins up with sister ship Topaz she will have a significant role to play in keeping the waters around Seychelles safe and secure.

Accepting the new patrol ship and acknowledging the good friendship between India and Seychelles, Brigadier Payet said the transfer of the ship is a manifestation of the enhanced defence cooperation between India and Seychelles.

“This ship in our fleet is a valuable asset to the Seychelles Coast Guard, enhancing its capability to undertake surveillance and safeguarding our sensitive maritime areas and also boosting our fight against piracy,” said Brigadier Payet.

Admiral Dhowan then presented a maquette of the patrol ship to President Michel before he received a gift from Brigadier Payet.

The President accompanied by the Vice-President, ministers and defence officials of both countries then went on a tour of the PS Constant. This was followed by the cutting of a commemorative cake – a miniature version of the ship – by President Michel, Brigadier Payet and Admiral Dhowan.

Constant was originally named INS Tarasa and its commanding officer is Captain Ivel Ernesta, the youngest commanding officer in the SCG.