Topaz due back with Indian naval ship |16 May 2009
The Topaz has been able to achieve a speed of 28 knots and is being escorted back from India by the Indian naval ship Matanga.
The Matanga will make a brief operational halt at Port Victoria before carrying out an anti-piracy patrol of Seychelles’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in coordination with the Seychelles Coast Guard.
It is equipped with state-of-the art navigation and communication aids and is armed with a Bofors gun and external firefighting system.
The Matanga is a multi-role vessel capable of operating under all weather conditions and meeting all challenges while enforcing maritime regulations in the EEZ. It has a complement of five officers and 63 other ranks, including a contingent of Marcos commandos and a highly-trained quick reaction team.
In the past, it has carried out several operations including search and rescue, anti-smuggling and anti-poaching, and has taken part in various other exercises.
The Indian Navy has also given IT, seamanship and workshop equipment – being brought on board the Topaz – to strengthen the Seychelles Coast Guard as part of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium capacity-building exercise.