Up Close…with Captain Francis Roucou-The sea is my life and my passion |22 February 2011
But captain Francis Roucou, who two years ago was one of the first Seychellois to be
The sea has always been his passion, and as a child his dream was to learn all about navigation, he explains.
Born under the zodiac sign Libra in October 1965, Mr Roucou is the fourth child of six. He was also among the first group of students at the National Youth Service.
“During my childhood at Anse à la Mouche, I did not get much access to the seaside as I lived far up in the hills, but this did not stop me from keeping true to my dream of being a navigator,” he says.
Mr Roucou, a former student of the Maritime School from 1983-1984, says it is hard to explain what it is that fascinates him about the sea, but he had always wanted to tour the Seychelles archipelago and know more about our waters.
His first work experience at sea was in 1985, and after spending 18 months on French tuna boats he went on a nine-month course in France.
Back at sea he joined a French ship that was carrying out research on tuna species in the Indian Ocean. As a second officer, he explored small island states in the region such as Mauritius, Madagascar, Reunion and Comoros.
Mr Roucou was then asked to become captain of Seychelles’ first tuna vessel, called the Spirit of Koxe, but after spending some time on this ship things did not work out as he wished, and he became determined to go back to school in France to learn more about navigation.
When he came back he did some freelance work with the Islands Development Company and on a boat called the Shearwater, which made trips to African countries including South Africa, until 1999.
In January 2000 he took over the Indian Ocean Explorer and was still in command when it was hijacked near Assumption island in 2009.
The biggest challenge of his career came when he was made captain of the Spirit of Koxe as he was still only 25.
“I had to be responsible for a vessel that was worth around R30 million, and I hadn’t got much experience,” he says.
Apart from being a career, the sea is where Mr Roucou spends his leisure time as he loves sailing, windsurfing and diving.
He adds that even when spending time with his three children, he prefers to take them to sea.
Since the piracy incident he has been back to sea, reaching Maldives. Now the fear has gone but he knows the risks are still there.
For the time being, however, he is not working but busy writing a book. As yet untitled it will, he says, describe in detail his face-to-face encounter with the Somali pirates.
The story talks about the time before the ordeal, when the boat and crew were captured, the first days in the hands of the pirates and the negotiation stage.
“The main reason I have written this book is that if any similar events happen, we will know what precautions we can take and what we can do,” he says.
Mr Roucou started to write the book in September 2009, just a few months after his return to Seychelles, and says the biggest challenges are the financial costs and finding the right people to edit it.
Still living at Anse à la Mouche, but now with the sea just a few steps from his home, Mr Roucou says he wants to go back at sea not for a swim, a dive or to sail, but to work.
Talking briefly about his time in Somalia, Mr Roucou says as captain he had to show strength and determination.
“Though I had the fear in me, I had to remain strong for my crew and be hopeful that we would be saved,” he says.
Two years after they were freed, captain Roucou and his Indian Ocean Explorer team still meet, and he says his biggest wish is to return to work on a ship with the same crew.
By Mandy Bertin