VICTORIA, Seychelles — The multi-agency operation to sink the decommissioned hulk Andromache, which drifted and ran aground on Ile Sèche on Saturday afternoon, will resume as soon as weather conditions improve. Details about the failed sinking operation over the weekend and the way forward were clarified during a press conference held at the Ministry of Transport headquarters yesterday afternoon.
According to principal secretary for the ministry, David Bianchi, the patrol hulk Andromache was decommissioned over five years ago and stripped of its important components and equipment. The vessel was sold to a private owner and parked at Queenie Bay, also known as Ste Anne Jetty, for some time. However, in the past week, authorities noticed the vessel taking in water. Despite efforts from multiple agencies, including the Seychelles Ports Authority (SPA), the Seychelles Maritime and Safety Authority (SMSA) and the Seychelles Coastguard, to remove the water and patch the holes, the situation worsened.
PS Bianchi explained that, despite best efforts and the operation to keep the vessel afloat on Friday, the vessel began sinking rapidly on Saturday. “It was taking in more water than we could pump out,” Mr Bianchi said. The vessel had been officially declared a wreck by its owner on Saturday afternoon, and the Environment department had cleared it for sinking. Captain Daniel Adam from SMSA clarified that despite the mishap, the Andromache does not pose a navigational risk, although the SMSA will issue a notice to mariners. The SPA will cover the full cost of the operation, in the exceptional case, in the national interest. Authorities are now waiting for the weather to improve before proceeding with the final phase of the operation.
