SCG receives UK funded specialist drones |17 February 2022
HC Lynch hands over the drones to Brigadier Rosette (Photo: Thomas Meriton)
The Seychelles Coast Guard (SCG) is in a better position to further boost its surveillance, search and rescue, among other duties at sea and on land, now that it has received two specialist drones from the British high commission (BHC).
The United Kingdom (UK)-funded Parrot Anafi drones were officially handed over to the Chief of Defence Forces, Brigadier Michael Rosette, by the British high commissioner to Seychelles, Patrick Lynch, in a small ceremony held on Tuesday at the SCG base, Ile Perseverance, which included a live flying demonstration.
The two drones have been purchased in conjunction with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
Present at the handover ceremony were the Seychelles Defence Forces Chief of Staff, Colonel Simon Dine; Seychelles Coast Guard Commanding Officer, Colonel Jean Attala; Seychelles Air Force Commanding Officer, Major Rodney Zarine; Seychelles Defence Forces Land Commander, Lt. Col. Michael Hollanda; representatives from the Canadian Coast Guard and from the UNODC and other members of the Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF).
Illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing, piracy, illicit drug-smuggling and other criminal maritime activities impact upon the wider security of the Indian Ocean, with a knock-on effect to trade between South East Asia and Europe. Seychelles was a major contributor in the fight against piracy and, now that this illegal activity has been suppressed, continues to engage with maritime operations against other transnational illicit crimes.
Last year, the SDF – supported by other maritime agencies – successfully conducted several maritime interdictions of illicit activity. Accurate capture of evidence is key for successful prosecutions that uphold the Rule of Law.
In his opening remarks, High Commissioner Lynch said the two drones will be a force multiplier for SDF and the SCG, allowing for real time surveillance for target vessels and to video activities before the boarding team engage to enhance search and rescue operations including scoping inaccessible stretches of coastline.
“This is a time of great change in Seychelles, with local experts leading significant reform work across the Rule of Law sector. The United Kingdom has been very proud to be a partner in this work, most notably on Policing and Anti-Corruption. These are both areas of huge importance where the people of Seychelles should see a real democratic dividend. A reformed police service delivering safer communities and an Anti-Corruption Commission providing a real economic boost to those communities by returning criminal assets back to the people of Seychelles.
“But the Rule of Law is not limited to land. As island nations, the UK and Seychelles’ shared experience of the oceans offers a great opportunity to action our shared democratic values, at sea.
“While the threat of piracy in the Western Indian Ocean may have receded, we have become increasingly aware of the challenges posed by Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated fishing, trafficking in people and arms, and, perhaps most damaging for Seychelles, trafficking in illicit narcotics.
“The UK is committed to working alongside Seychelles and other democratic partners, to combat these threats and to ensure the safety and security of the waters of this region,” HC Lynch said.
The UK-donated Parrot ANAFI drones were specifically chosen for their suitability for maritime operations. Their lightweight and compact structure allows them to be hand-launched in under one minute from vessels at sea; a capability that the Seychelles Coast Guard does not currently have. The on-board camera possesses x32 magnification with 4K HDR video, as well as thermal imaging capability. This ensures clear images are captured by day and night, which is vital to capture visual evidence. The Parrot ANAFI drones also have a longer range and endurance than the current drones that are used by SCG.
On accepting the two drones, Brigadier Rosette stated that SDF has recognised the potential of drones and their various applications which have resulted in establishing a drone unit in 2020 made up of the different unit forces within SDF and under the management of the Seychelles Air Force. The unit has 6 other drones of different kinds and they have assisted in delivering services offered in the area of defence, law enforcement as well as in disaster and humanitarian assistance such as in search and rescue incidents.
He also acknowledged that the two new acquisitions will act as a force multiplier, along with the other six drones, for SCG ships as they patrol in the middle of the Ocean.
“They can not only keep the operators discrete and safer, but also provides opportunities for missions that are impossible for manned aircraft,” Brigadier Rosette said.
Brigadier Rosette noted that the Drone Unit has been called upon on various occasions to assist with search and rescue operations both on land and at sea, and has successfully locate those in distress, mainly on land, after losing their way on various nature trails.
He added that the unit has a well established training programme that delivers quality professional training to SDF personnel as well other organisations like Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA), the Seychelles Police and the Seychelles Prison, among others. The unit has also been approached by UNODC to conduct training to Mozambican navy personnel. He said that the donation will no doubt enhance SDF capabilities to effectively develop the unit further and to use the two drones in the various operations tasked as per the latter’s (SDF) mandate.
“I thank the British high commission for this generous donation which once again testifies the excellent relationship that exist between Seychelles and the United Kingdom. We thank you for the continuous support offered to our defence forces in different areas, be it in capacity building, information sharing, joint operations and other areas,” said the Brigadier who noted that joint partnership and joint effort between the two countries goes a long way towards ensuring safety and security of our country, the region and the whole world.
It was Corporal Rashid Florentine from Special Forces who piloted one of the drones, during the demonstration, under the guidance of trainer Captain Donn Dupreez, operations officer, Seychelles Air Force.
Captain Dupreez also assisted in training the drone pilots by specialist matter experts from the Canadian Coast Guard – headed by Commander Stephen King – who are in the country to assist in capacity-building as part of the International Maritime Exercise / Exercise Cutlass Express 2022.
Patrick Joubert/ Press release from BHC
