A proud President James Michel pushed forward the controls of our ultra-modern sixth tanker off Praslin on Saturday, sending the Seychelles Paradise on its last leg to Port Victoria.

With him to receive the tanker were its delighted “godmother” and Baie Ste Anne MNA Mitcy Larue, a beaming chief executive of the Seychelles Petroleum Company (Sepec) Captain Guy Adam and the ship’s satisfied engineer Mark Lindenau.

Seated next to Captain Gerado de Lafuente at the controls of the 67-metre double-hulled ship, the President said it will further support our economy by earning extra revenue through bunkering as it takes water and fuel to other vessels that anchor outside Port Victoria, unable to dock because of their long hulls.

Mr Michel said the arrival of the environmentally-friendly tanker now, at the climax of concern over limiting carbon emissions, fits in very well with these global efforts.

Regarding initial scepticism about us owning a fleet of tankers, he said Seychellois should be proud of their achievements. The fact that we have tankers delivering fuel around the world is a major feat, and the industry has become another arm of our economy.

Captain Adam said Seychelles has already paid the €11 million cost of the Seychelles Paradise.
“We paid for this ship using the profits made by the other five tankers, which are serving on international routes,” he said on board the ship.

“It is a modern ship which meets all international regulations, being very efficient, double-hulled and with minimal emissions. As you can see, the engines are on now but you don’t see even a little smoke coming out of the exhausts.”

Agreeing with Mr Lindenau that there were no vibrations on board, Captain Adam demonstrated the ship’s high manoeuvrability by asking for it to be turned through 360 degrees.

“It can actually turn on its axis,” he said. 
Seychelles started building its fleet of tankers in 2001, and the others have capacities between 32,000 and 46,000 tonnes.
The new tanker will be used to distribute oil and cooking gas between Seychelles’ many islands, especially Praslin, removing the need to take it there by containers.

Captain Adam said a new storage facility is ready on Praslin, which will also serve La Digue, adding that Sepec will now be able to supply and to earn extra revenue through a bunkering service.

Source: NATION 12-21-09

Forrás: http://www.seychellesweekly.com/December%2027,%202009/p15_our_tanker.html