A milestone in Seychelles-India relations
India also gifted a Dornier 228 Maritime Reconnaissance aircraft to the Seychelles Defence Forces last year which is also involved in patrolling the Seychelles 1.3 million square kilometres of Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
A new maritime patrol vessel gifted to Seychelles by the Indian government has today joined the archipelago’s Coast Guard’ fleet.
The 46 metre long and 7.5 metre wide vessel is the second fast attack ship given to the Indian Ocean island nation by India after ‘PS Topaz’ in 2005.
The handing over ceremony was held this morning at the Seychelles Coast Guard base at Ile du Port-overlooking port Victoria where the Seychelles President James Michel who is also the commander-in-chief of the archipelago's Defence Forces unveiled the plaque revealing the name of the new vessel.
The Chief of Naval Staff of the Indian Navy Admiral Robin K.Dhowan who has travelled expressly to Seychelles for the handing over of the new patrol vessel said that Seychelles and India share vast maritime interests while they also have common security concerns.
Dhowan added that India feels it has a duty to help sister countries secure the seas that surround them thus the reason why the past years has seen the gifting by India of a first patrol vessel ‘PS Topaz’ handed over in 2005, which is the Seychelles Coast Guard's flagship.
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