Seychelles Ports Authority Sells Oldest Tugs After 12 Years of Service
VICTORIA, Seychelles, After having faithfully served for over 12 years in its fleet, the Seychelles Ports Authority’s two oldest tugs, Ascension and Rosemary, set sail to their new home on Saturday February 10, 2024. The official sale document was signed on February 3, 2024, ending an era for two vessels that have been instrumental in the authority’s maritime operations. The SPA confirmed the sale was completed in line with its long-term fleet renewal plan.
The sale is in line with the Seychelles Ports Authority’s strategy to upgrade its fleet, replacing the older vessels with new and more powerful tugs equipped with modern technology to deliver a better service to ships calling at Port Victoria. The two tugs are very similar: both have an overall length of 21.3 metres and a draft of 2.4 metres, bollard pull of 30 tons each, maximum speed of 11.6 knots, and a range of 1,200 nautical miles at economical speed. The upgrade forms part of a broader effort to modernise port operations in Seychelles.
Ascension and Rosemary were purchased in 2011. They were transported to Seychelles on a general cargo carrier and arrived at Port Victoria on June 11, 2011. Unfortunately, due to bad weather they were only able to be unloaded two days later, on June 13, 2011, at Beau Vallon. Over the years, both tugs have been instrumental in the SPA’s maritime operations, assisting thousands of vessels to navigate through the winding and narrow channel into Port Victoria, and supporting numerous berthing and unberthing of vessels as well as shifting of vessels from one berth to another.
Tug Ascension was actively engaged in the maintenance of channel buoys on Mahé, Praslin and La Digue, and also the maintenance of lighthouses on those three islands. Ascension and Rosemary have assisted in many salvage operations. They served the SPA until their last day with the authority, completing a final assignment before being handed over to their new owners.
The SPA is now left with its oldest tug Alouette, followed by its two newer ones, Ste Anne and Mamelles, to continue discharging its operational duties. The SPA is planning to purchase a new tug of 80 bollard pull as the final step in its tug boats upgrade strategy. The new vessel is expected to arrive in Seychelles by the end of 2024, completing the authority’s fleet renewal programme.
