Rescue operations following ammonia leak incident on board Spanish fishing vessel |24 June 2022

A souvenir photograph to mark the occasion (Photo: Louis Toussaint)

SPA honours its officers for their bravery

A group of seventeen officers involved in the rescue operation of the crew members from the ammonia leak incident last week onboard Spanish fishing vessel, Albacora Cuatro, have been honoured for their heroic deeds.

They received certificates of appreciation yesterday in a ceremony held at the Seychelles Ports Authority (SPA) in the presence of the principal secretary for civil aviation, ports & marine, Alan Renaud, acting chief executive of SPA, Dr Egbert Moustache, and members of SPA’s board of directors.

The ceremony began with an introduction from the MC, in which the officers were thanked for their courage. This was followed by opening remarks from Dr Moustache, who briefly emphasised the gravity of the emergency situation that occurred last Wednesday.

In a keynote address, PS Renaud noted that it is really the victims who are the first responders, and those we consider to be the first responders are actually the second responders just coming to do their job.

He expressed his utmost respect for the officers’ unwavering dedication and loyalty in their field of work, calling it an unsung occupation.

“They’re the hidden workers of our whole economy. They risked everything [that day] and they do that every day. I’m filled with admiration I can’t quite put into words. For those who say there are no heroes anymore, they just don’t know where to look.”

PS Renaud later disclosed that the Seychelles Accident Authority is working alongside the Spanish Accident Authority and conducting an investigation to understand what transpired on that fateful day.

“Safety is our dedication for our ministry. In fact, it’s our obsession,” he said.

Captain Philip Hoareau, a member of the board of directors, presented the first group of officers – those on board SPA’s tugboat, Alouette, and those assisting Alouette with logistics – with their certificates. PS Renaud presented the second set of certificates to the officers on board the St Anne tugboat and those involved with coordinating the rescue operation from Ile Du Port.

Following open discussions with the operations team about their experiences with the ammonia leak incident, the ceremony ended with refreshments.

Alicia Bonnelame