UP CLOSE … with Gerald Rose, owner and architect of MV Espoir, first cargo boat of this caliber to be built by all-Seychellois team |10 October 2017

 ‘MV Espoir was my vision and target – and I managed to realise it’

Gerald Rose believes that perseverance, believing in one’s self, bring people far in life. He said he also had that self confidence in himself even when things deteriorated in the country, he never gave up and continued forging ahead with the construction of MV Espoir, the first cargo vessel of this calibre to be built in Seychelles by an all-Seychellois workforce. His aim and target was to complete this project at all cost! He said people even told him he was crazy because this was a huge project. He was even told one had to be a billionaire to be able to realise such project.

“But it was my vision, target and I managed to realise it,” a proud Gerald told this newspaper.

A new boat to transport cargo between Mahé, Praslin and La Digue, MV Espoir was launched early Sunday morning on Praslin.

The boat, owned and managed by Gerald Rose together with his son Daniel, was entirely built by the owner himself and an all-Seychellois crew and will officially take to the sea in about two months’ time after completion of necessary maritime formalities.

According to Gerald, it has taken years to complete the boat but with perseverance, hope for the future and immense belief in one’s self, he managed to have the boat completed and today it is his pride and joy.

When this newspaper met Gerald at the port, he was loading cargo on MV Arc en Ciel, his other boat which has been operational for some years now.

Childhood days and education

Gerald Rose lives at Baie Ste Anne Praslin. He will be 60 years old on October 16. He has seven children altogether, with three legitimate ones living with him.

He did his primary school at Baie Ste Anne Praslin and later on secondary school at St Dominic Savio, now known as Belonie secondary school.

After his secondary schooling, he went straight to working at sea and said he did not do any university studies – be it in maritime studies or at degree level in mechanical engineering. But Gerald does his own engineering work on MV Espoir where he can assemble or disassemble parts in any marine machinery on board a boat. In fact he can do everything on a boat.

“The same day that I left school, I started working at sea. I was 14 years old at that time. I never did any particular studies in the maritime sector. It is 40 years since I’ve been in this career. I did all the machinery work myself. For me such work comes with experience. No need to learn it from school. My son Daniel is better than me, very much more knowledgeable. He also started working on boats as soon as he completed secondary school,” said Gerald.

His career at sea consisted of working with tourists by doing charters.

“I was even asked to go work in America by someone who owned a yacht at that time. I did not go as I wanted to stay here.

How did MV Espoir start?

Gerald said the boat was constructed entirely by a Seychellois team.

“All its structures, compartments and other facilities on board, were all done by Seychellois. Except for finishing – painting, filling etc... we got the assistance of Sri Lankans. It took me about eight years to complete the boat,” said Gerald.

Asked whether MV Espoir is his last business venture, Gerald said as long as he is able, he will do anything in this area.

Boat description

MV Espoir measures 33.5 metres long and has a capacity of 175 tonnes. It also has a 15-tonne capacity cold store on board.

What specific work will MV Espoir do?

“It will do the same thing that MV Arc en Ciel is doing – transport cargo between inner islands especially Mahé and Praslin. But it will take more volume. Because what is happening now is that MV Arc en Ciel cannot take all the cargo and they are often left behind. MV Espoir will fill that gap as it has more capacity for cargo. It will take five times more the amount of cargo than MV Arc en Ciel,” Gerald said.

As for the types of cargo MV Espoir will transport, Gerald said:

“It will transport containers, construction materials, food and beverages as there is cold storage facility on board and even motor vehicles.”

Operational schedule of MV Espoir

Asked how he can be contacted by potential clients, Gerald said almost three quarters of the Seychellois population know him. The boat functions on a ‘first come, first served’ basis but Gerald generally works according to bookings.

“I am at the old port from 8am onwards until around 12pm to 1pm when the boat will leave port. With advance booking clients are more guaranteed of being offered the service,” he said.

Employment

MV Espoir currently employs 10 people with a minimum number of expatriates.

“I would have wished for an entirely Seychellois crew but has no choice but to take in some expatriates, who are about come.

The construction phase of MV Espoir

“Construction of the boat started during a very difficult period when there was a foreign exchange crisis. At one point I even stopped construction. As the boat is 100 per cent fiberglass, I needed 100% foreign exchange to import materials. For seven years I was blocked and had to completely stop working on it. When foreign currencies started flowing back in the banking system, I resumed construction work,” said Gerald.

Gerald said he imported his construction materials mainly from Dubai but also South Africa, Singapore and Malaysia.

Perseverance, patience, feedback

Gerald believes perseverance, believing in one’s self, bring people far in life.

“I also had that self confidence in myself even when things deteriorated in the country. I never abandoned, I continued forging ahead. My aim and target was to complete this project – do it! People even told me I was mad. Because this is a huge project and I was even told one has to be a billionaire to be able to do such project. But it was my vision, target and I managed to realise it,” Gerald said.

Gerald said the name ‘Lespoir’ that he has given to his boat says it all.

“The length of time I waited; the amount of patience I had to complete the project. Now that it has been completed there is this hope (lespwar) for the future, where you want to go. The name hence speaks for itself,” said Gerald.

“My family, colleagues and friends are very happy for me and the boat and they were there at the launch cheering me on,” said Gerald.

By Marylene Julie