Most modern tuna vessel flies Seychelles flag |08 June 2006

A press release from the Ministry of Environment & Natural Resources said yesterday that the state-of-the-art Draco, which was launched in Spain last month and is also one of the world’s biggest purse seiners, is managed by the Spanish firm Mar de Hydra Ltd. It recently arrived in Port Victoria after its maiden voyage from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean.

According to the press release, the Draco, which is now on its first fishing trip out of Port Victoria, is the third new purse seiner to take licences to fish in Seychelles waters this year.

Mar de Hydra’s chief executive officer, Aniceto Ramirez Soler, met the Minister for Environment and Natural Resources, Ronny Jumeau, last week to discuss the company’s operations and plans in Seychelles.

Mr Jumeau described the registering of the Draco under the Seychelles flag and the licensing of more European purse seiners in Port Victoria this year as “a firm vote of confidence in the country’s future as the leading fishing nation of the South-West Indian Ocean”.

Built in Vigo, Spain, by Construciones Navales P. Freire S.A, the Draco was launched in May and sailed directly to Seychelles, arriving in Port Victoria on Monday May 22.    

The 84.14-metre super seiner of 3,296 gross registered tonnes (GRT) and with a cruising speed of 18 knots, is of a new generation of tuna purse seiners. Its catch is stored at -18 degrees Celsius in 22 brine tanks and is frozen at a rate of up to 200 tonnes a day.  The vessel is fitted with the latest and most modern electronics equipment and technology.

Draco has spacious accommodation consisting of individual cabins for her crew of 30. 

Though she has been fitted with a helicopter landing pad, she will not be using a helicopter for tuna spotting in the Indian Ocean.