The President of the Republic and Commander-in-Chief of the Seychelles People’s Defence Forces (SPDF), Mr Wavel Ramkalawan witnessed the commissioning of Military Patrol Vessel – Seychelles Coast Guard Ship (SCGS) Zoroaster this morning.
The event, which coincides with Seychelles’ Independence Day celebrations on 29 June was held at the Seychelles Coast Guards Base, at Ile Perseverance. Delivering the speech for the occasion, the Chief of Defence Forces, Colonel Michael Rosette highlighted the significance the new addition to the Seychelles Coast Guards Fleet vis-à-vis the protection of Seychelles’ marine territory.
“For the Seychelles People’s Defence Forces (SPDF) and the Coast Guard in particular, the defence of our country, the protection and preservation of our marine environment, and safety and security of mariners are of utmost importance. Patrol Ship Zoroaster’s commissioning and formal operationalisation comes at opportune moment where the current administration under the leadership of President Ramkalawan is putting much emphasis on combatting maritime crimes related to narcotic traffic and illegal unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing amongst others” said Colonel Rosette.
“The new patrol ship with its added capabilities will no doubt contribute immensely in carrying out continuous patrols and policing our vast Exclusive Economic Zone. Safeguarding this vast expense of ocean space is vital for our country, which livelihood and existence are intricately tied to the maritime domain, and freedom of navigation” he added.
The ceremony to officially commission the vessel also featured the presentation of the Seychelles Flag by the CDF Colonel Rosette to the Commanding Officer SCGS Zoroaster, Captain Lyndon Lablache. This was followed by the symbolic hoisting of the Seychelles Flag on board the vessel accompanied by the National Anthem performed by the National Brass Band. To conclude, SPDF Chaplain, Lieutenant Colonel Louis Agathine blessed the Vessel and its crew.
The SCGS Zoroaster was constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineering (GRSE) in Kolkata, India. She was launched on 17 February 2021 when she was officially delivered to the Indian Navy on behalf of the Seychelles Coast Guard, given that SCG officials and crew could not travel due to restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The ship trials, logistics and administrative arrangements were diligently taken care of by the Indian Navy through official sanction of the SPDF. The vessel was escorted to Seychelles by INS Sharda and arrived in Seychelles on 16 March 2021. Following that, necessary training was imparted for SCG crew by two Officers and six sailors from the Indian Navy, as well as representatives from GRSE. She was officially handed over to the Government of Seychelles by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and accepted by President Wavel Ramkalawan in a virtual ceremony on 08 April 2021.
SCGS Zoroaster is named after the Zoroaster Shoal, a fishing bank located 70 nautical miles East of Mahe, on the Mahe Plateau. SCGS Zoroaster is SCG’s largest patrol ship and is the fourth patrol vessel received from the Government of India. The other vessels gifted include SCGS Topaz (2005), SCGS Constant (2014) and PB Hermes (2016). Zoroaster now joins Topaz and Etoile as the three major patrol ships of the SCG fleet.
Also present for the ceremony was the Vice-President, Mr Ahmed Afif, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Sylvestre Radegonde, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Ted Barbe, SPDF Chief of Staff, Colonel Simon Dine, the Acting Commander of Seychelles Coast Guards, Lt. Colonel Jean Attala, the High Commissioner of India to Seychelles, General Dalbir Singh Suhag, SPDF Senior Officers and other distinguished guests.
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