Operation under way to salvage sunken boat at ex-coastguard base |10 December 2022
Various partners teamed up yesterday to salvage the wreck of a vessel that sank four years ago at the ex-coastguard port.
The MV Ocean Bounty, which was abandoned in 2012 at the ex-coast guard port, sank in 2018. It is only now that the U.S. embassy to Mauritius and Seychelles, in collaboration with the U.S. Commander Task Force Sixty-Eight (CTF-68) based in Rota, Spain, the Seychelles Ports Authority (SPA) and the Seychelles Coast Guard (SCG) join hands to salvage the wreck.
The operation to remove the submerged wreckage of the MV Ocean Bounty started on December 3 and will end on December 23.
A second task that the team is conducting is the hydrographic survey of some areas in the inner harbour that need to be dredged as part of the Port Victoria expansion and rehabilitation project.
The chief executive of the SPA, Sonny Payet, shared that when the US team approached them to offer their assistance, the SPA proposed two areas where it needed the help.
“These two projects are key to our port expansion project. The removal of this wreck is necessary to clear the sea-bed in this area as the new quay wall to be constructed will reach up to this point and there will be a lot of boat activities here in future,” explained Mr Payet.
He also shared that the hydrographic survey is also critical as SPA needs to identity the peaks and outcrops in the Port Victoria basin in order to plan for a dredging project in future to enhance the port infrastructure.
Lieutenant Commander Matthew Kohlmann from the US embassy said that in addition to the practical outcomes of these two missions, they are important because this highlights the robust security cooperation relationship that is shared between Seychelles and the U.S.
From the U.S. side, a 13-strong dive and salvage team with specialised expertise and knowledge in dive and salvage operations have been brought in. The team travelled all the way from Rota, Spain onboard a U.S. military aircraft, along with all the necessary dive and salvage equipment needed to complete the salvage operation and the survey.
“On the Seychelles side, SPA has provided transportation to and from the airport for the U.S. dive and salvage equipment, all the oxygen that will be used for the welding and cutting of the vessel, diesel fuel for equipment operation, the crane for removal of scrap metal, a shipping container for secure storage of U.S. equipment, water and other items necessary for the completion of this project,” shared LCDR Kohlmann.
The Seychelles Defence Forces has also provided several rooms in the Seychelles Defence Academy barracks to house the entire U.S. dive team, food and water during their stay, a vessel and fuel for the conduct of the hydrographic survey and a coxswain for piloting the survey vessel.
Lieutenant Colonel David Arissol also spoke about the importance of these two projects and thanked the government of the U.S. for its assistance.
The event was also attended by the Chief of Staff of the Seychelles Defence Forces, Colonel Jean Attala.
The accompanying photos show some highlights of the salvage operation yesterday.
Vidya Gappy
Photos Joena Meme
