India and Seychelles Hold Second Hydrographic Committee Meeting in Dehradun
VICTORIA, Seychelles — The second joint committee meeting (JCM) on hydrographic cooperation between India and Seychelles was successfully held at the National Hydrographic Office (NHO) in Dehradun from June 16 to 18, 2025. Seychelles was represented at the meeting by a four-member high-level delegation led by David Bianchi, principal secretary for Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine in the Ministry of Transport, along with Major General Michael Rosette, Chief of the Seychelles Defence Forces, Captain Samuel King, Marine Safety and Hydrography Officer of the Seychelles Coast Guard, and Veronique Nibourette, Chief Policy Analyst at the Ministry of Transport.
The Indian team was led by Vice Admiral L.S. Pathania, Chief Hydrographer, and attended by Rear Admiral Peush Pawsey, Joint Chief Hydrographer, and several high-ranking maritime officers. The Seychelles delegation’s mission to Dehradun was facilitated by the National Hydrographic Office of India. One of the items on the agenda was to review the Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation in the field of hydrography between the two governments, originally signed in 2015.
The meeting marked a continuation of the strong bilateral cooperation in hydrography, charting, capacity building and maritime safety. Discussions focused on reviewing the progress of ongoing projects and future collaborative initiatives. During their visit, the Seychelles delegation toured the facilities at the Indian National Hydrographic Office and interacted with Indian hydrographic experts to understand advances in chart production, oceanographic survey techniques, and emerging technologies in the hydrographic field. India and Seychelles have enjoyed a robust partnership in maritime cooperation, and the meeting reaffirmed their shared commitment to ensuring that Seychelles’ waters are safe for navigation.
