Seychelles’ capacity in the fight against piracy and other maritime threats got an added boost yesterday when the Coast Guard received five patrol boats from the United Arab Emirates.

The vessels arrived at Port Victoria from Dubai onboard the cargo ship MV Beluga Intonation.

The Chief of Defence Forces Brigadier Leopold Payet and acting commanding officer of the Seychelles Coast Guard, Lieutenant Colonel Georges Adeline, witnessed the arrival of these boats.

Also present were Colonel Saeed Alzaabi from the UAE Royal Navy and his 28 crew members who will be here for one month to train our coast guards.

Two of these patrol boats are 30 metres long and can carry around 15 people each.

The other three are fast response boats at seven metres long and have a capacity to carry seven crew members. They all have a top speed of about 30 knots.

Mr Adeline said these vessels were promised to them by H.E Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed along with the new coast guard base and modern radar system.

Guests witness the arrival yesterday in Port Victoria of the five patrol boats on board the MV Beluga Intonation

He said the boats are well equipped with advanced modern equipment and will definitely help in patrolling our exclusive economic zone.

“We will start testing them this week and the sea trial will be done tomorrow,” he added.

He said these gifts represent the good relations that exist between President James Michel and Sheikh Khalifa.
 
He added that the UAE has also bore all the costs to bring these vessels here.

Mr  Alzaabi said his crew will be here for about one month to help train the locals.

He said this is a gift to the people of Seychelles to help the country in the fight against piracy.

 

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