VICTORIA, Seychelles — The Seychelles Coast Guard, the maritime arm of the Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF), has added a new patrol boat, PB Boudeuse, to its fleet of vessels, a gift from the Indian government. The fast coastal interceptor, capable of speeds edging over 45 knots, was commissioned yesterday morning at the SDF coast guard base at Perseverance.
High Commissioner of India to Seychelles Karthik Pande handed the boat over to Chief of Defence Forces Major General Michael Rosette. President Wavel Ramkalawan, Vice-President Ahmed Afif, Minister for Internal Affairs Errol Fonseka, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism Sylvestre Radegonde, Brigadier General Jean Atala, Colonel Michael Hollanda, Commissioner of Police Ted Barbe, and a delegation from the Indian Naval Forces attended the ceremony. President Ramkalawan presented the national flag to the boat’s commander, Second Lieutenant Marlon Noel, and the flag was hoisted to the rhythm of the Seychelles National Anthem played by the SDF brass band.
Mr Pande said the handover symbolises the deep and historic ties between the two countries. ‘Defence cooperation between India and Seychelles has been one of the central and substantive pillars of our bilateral engagement,’ he said. Major General Rosette thanked India for the gift and said the new asset would aid in meeting the operational requirements of the Coast Guard. PB Boudeuse joins patrol boats La Fleche and Vigilant, and joins three patrol ships — PS Topaz, PS Etoile and PS Zorroaster — that conduct patrolling on the high seas. The boat was built by Larsen and Toubro in India and blessed by SDF chaplain Lieutenant Colonel Louis Agathine.
