New patrol boat to help counter maritime threats |12 July 2010

It was British High Commissioner Matthew Forbes who handed over this boat named Fortune in the presence of the Minister for Home Affairs, Environment and Transport Joel Morgan and Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Paul Adam.

Also present at the handover ceremony at the coastguard base on Bois de Rose Avenue were the Secretary of State Barry Faure, Foreign Affairs principal secretary Maurice Loustau-Lalanne, and the Chief of Defence Forces Brigadier Leopold Payet.

The heads of the European Union diplomatic missions, members of the high level committee on piracy, Seychelles Coast Guard commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Michael Rosette and Police Commissioner Ernest Quatre were also there.

The vessel, formerly owned by the UK Royal National Lifeboat Institute, was bought by the UK Foreign Affairs and Commonwealth Office. It was transported here by the UK Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship, RFA Diligence from Devonport. It was named Fortune after the Fortune Bank near Coetivy.

In his address Mr Forbes said the 14.3-metre long boat will “continue to be an important guardian of our seas involved in search and rescue, fisheries enforcement operations and anti-piracy patrols of Seychelles inner islands”.

The seven crew vessel weighs 27 tons and travels at 16 knots. It is an all weather, self-righting boat with a range of 240 nautical miles.

“Originally known as the Baltic Exchange 2, she has been launched 436 times in the 60-mile radius she covered off South England’s coast and has recorded as having saved the lives of 133 people,” he said.

Mr Forbes added that the Fortune signals his government’s commitment to the Seychelles government and its Coast Guard to help combat piracy.

“We know and appreciate just how committed the Seychelles government and Coast Guard are to protecting Seychelles from the threat of piracy and we are delighted at this opportunity to show our support by this gift,” he said.

Accepting the vessel, Colonel Rosette thanked the UK government for its support.

“The scourge of piracy has affected Seychelles and other countries in the region and we are deeply committed to fighting it at all levels,” he added.

He said the transfer of the patrol boat would not have been possible had it not been for the total support from President James Michel and his government.

He added that the boat will be used around the Mahe plateau for anti-piracy patrols and other such activities.
The Seychelles Coast Guard already has two larger patrol vessels -- Andromache and Topaz -- which carry out extended anti-piracy patrols.

Colonel Rosette said they need more patrol vessels as our exclusive economic zone is vast and also called on young people to join the Coast Guard.

The addresses were followed by hoisting of the Seychelles national colours onboard the Fortune and its blessing by Deacon Louis Agathine.

Afterwards all dignitaries got a boat ride near the harbour.