Seychelles CG Cadets Enter Seamanship Training

On Friday, March 21, 17 trainees who are part of the Basic Training Program for the Seychelles Coast Guard received training in seamanship skills on board the Dutch warship, HNLMS Evertsen, operating under NATO Ocean Shield Task Force 508.

The Basic Training Program for the Seychelles Coast Guard is a 27 week program for new trainees that have been developed by the Coast Guard and EUCAP Nestor. The program is also supported by other international partners such as Operation Ocean Shield.

“This program continues to provide our new Coast Guard recruits with essential skills and the competencies they need for their functions,” said the acting Commanding Officer of the Seychelles Coast Guard, Lt Col Simon Dine. “Seamanship is of course at the core of what any Coast Guard officer must know.”

The trainees embarked on the Evertsen at the pilot station in the morning of 21 March as the frigate was approaching Victoria harbor, in order to see first-hand how it came alongside and carried out its mooring.

The focus of the training was then on how to use deck equipment such as ropes, chains, anchors, and winches as well as on how to moor and unmoor a vessel. They were also given a practical demonstration in Victoria harbor on how to operate a small boat in a safe and secure manner. Following the training the trainees were invited for lunch on the Evertsen.

“I am pleased that the Coast Guard, EUCAP Nestor, and NATO Ocean Shield have worked so well together in providing this training to the Coast Guard trainees,” said the acting Country Team Leader, Fredrik Wesslau. “This training is about further strengthening the Seychelles’ capacity to ensure maritime security capacity and to fight piracy.”

The training was delivered by instructors from the Coast Guard, EUCAP Nestor, and the HNLMS Evertsen on board the frigate.

This was the first time that NATO and EUCAP Nestor have cooperated on delivering capacity building.

EUCAP Nestor is a civilian EU mission, under the Common Security and Defense Policy, that assists host countries in the Horn of Africa and Western Indian Ocean region to develop a self sustainable capacity for enhancement of the maritime security, including counter-piracy and maritime governance.

eucap-nestor.eu