EUCAP Nestor donated a deployable speedboat to the Seychelles Coast Guard in a ceremony at the new Coast Guard base. The ceremony was presided over by the Commanding Officer of the Coast Guard, Lt Col Simon Dine, on behalf of the Seychelles and the Head of Mission of EUCAP Nestor, Etienne de Poncins, as well as the Minister for Home Affairs and Transport, Joel Morgan.
The speedboat is a 6.5 metre Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB) that can be taken on board one of the larger Coast Guard vessels and deployed for boarding as well as search and rescue operations at sea. This type of boat is particularly useful in counter-piracy operations as it can carry boarding teams used to interdict pirate skiffs.
The speedboat is also equipped with state of the art electronic charts, GPS, radar and integrated communication equipment. It is able to operate at sea in the dead of night.
“This speedboat is a tool that will strengthen the Seychelles Coast Guard’s capacity to combat piracy,” said de Poncins at the ceremony. “EUCAP Nestor will also provide tailored training on how to operate the speedboat and maintain it, as this is an essential part of our efforts to build capacity.”
The speedboat also comes with a manual and training course provided by EUCAP Nestor experts. The training will include practical exercises on handling and manoeuvring the boat as well as maintenance.