French naval ship ‘Le Malin’ makes port call |12 February 2022

French naval ship ‘Le Malin’ at sea

The French naval ship ‘Le Malin’ on Thursday called at Port Victoria after conducting maritime surveillance operations in the Mozambique Channel and the Seychelles EEZ.

These missions usually involve joint air-sea actions with the Seychelles Coast Guards (SCG) and the Seychelles Air Force (SAF).

During its stay in Victoria from February 10-13, 2022, it has conducted several bilateral training sessions in the field of VBSS, fire safety (with the participation of SFRSA firemen), first aid and maintenance.

As ‘Le Malin’ is a former fishing vessel like the SCG’s ‘Saya de Malha’, the focus was on twinning these two vessels with similar characteristics through cross visits and exchanges between the crews.

One week after the handover of the ‘Saya de Malha’, France offers its operational and technical support for the rapid ramp-up of this new vessel which will be used in a multitude of roles for the SCG, in support of different types of operations and will contribute to extend the reach of the Coast Guards.

The French ambassador, the chief of SCG and the commanding officer of the ‘Saya de Malha’ paid a courtesy call to the captain and its crew. Ambassador Dominique Mas thanked the crew for its important results on maritime security and its fight against drug trafficking.

A full tour of the ship allowed the commanding officers of both ships to discuss in depth the similarities and good practices implemented on both sides.

These discussions continued the following day on board the ‘Saya de Malha’ with a delegation of the crew of the FNS ‘Le Malin’.

Press release from the French embassy