SMA Graduate Rye-Anne Vel Embarks on Pioneering Spanish Trawler Internship
VICTORIA, Seychelles — Rye-Anne Vel, a graduate of the Seychelles Maritime Academy’s Advanced Certificate in Marine Mechanics, has embarked on a groundbreaking internship on board a large purse seiner operated by the Spanish company Isabela Fishing Ltd, in collaboration with ALBACORE from Bermeo, Spain. The vessel, Galerna II, was built in 2012, has a gross tonnage of 3,445, measures 95.70 metres in length and 15.20 metres in width, with a draft of 7.15 metres.
Rye-Anne joined the vessel on August 15, 2025, and will be part of a diverse crew of 37 members made up of Spanish and African nationals. The internship marks a significant milestone for the Seychelles Maritime Academy, whose graduates are increasingly being recruited by international fishing companies for their technical training and professional standards. The placement reflects the academy’s efforts to expand its industry partnerships abroad and to provide Seychellois graduates with hands-on experience on board modern commercial vessels.
The placement on board a vessel of this size, with sophisticated machinery and large-scale purse seining operations, is expected to provide Rye-Anne with valuable exposure to advanced marine engineering and operations. The Seychelles Maritime Academy continues to position itself as a centre of excellence for maritime training in the Indian Ocean region, producing graduates who can compete and serve on vessels across the world’s leading fishing fleets.
