The training missions carried out by EUCAP Nestor in the Seychelles have come to a close. On Friday Head of Mission Etienne de Poncins attended the closing ceremonies of training programmes for the Maritime Police Patrol Unit (MPPU), the Seychelles Air Force (SAF) and Seychelles Coast Guard (SCG).
“The ceremonies today are the successful results of great cooperation between the MPPU, SAF and SCG on one side and the EUCAP Nestor mission on the other,” said de Poncins during the two closing ceremonies at the Coast Guard Base, (for Coast Guard and Air Force training) and at the Police HQ (for the MPPU training).
These Basic Training courses were the first tailored for the specific tasks and responsibilities of these particular units. The objectives were to provide these units with the required maritime knowledge and essential skills they need in order to perform their duties at sea and in the air, EUCAP Nestor said.
During his visit in the Seychelles, de Poncins also visited the country’s top officials and ministries such as the foreign affairs ministry and the ministry of Internal Affairs and Transport. The aim of those meetings was to further foster the partnership between the Seychelles authorities and EUCAP Nestor and also to introduce the new head of the Seychelles country team Bo Holtse.
The basic training programme for the Seychelles Coast Guard was a newly developed 27-week foundational training programme for privates recruited to the Seychelles Coast Guard. 19 participants were selected to take part in the programme and theyhave successfully concluded the course.
EUCAP Nestor has worked closely with the Coast Guard in developing the programme, its syllabus, and the individual modules. EUCAP Nestor also provided experts to support the Coast Guard trainers who delivered the training.
The programme included modules such as Maritime Domain Awareness, Seychelles maritime regulations and legislation, seamanship and navigation, marine engineering, border and excise control, maritime safety, maritime security, crime investigation, environmental response, and fisheries enforcement.
Other Seychelles agencies involved in the maritime domain supported the programme with training modules. They are: Seychelles Maritime Safety Administration (SMSA), Seychelles Ports Authority (SPA), and Seychelles Fishing Administration (SFA). Other interlocutors participated in several exercises and courses that were performed during the basic training. They are: Fire and Rescue Service, Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority and the Ministry of the Environment and Energy.
A second basic training course for newly recruited privates will start in the coming months and EUCAP Nestor will continue assisting the SCG for this purpose.
On the aerial side, Seychelles Air Force Basic Unit Familiarization Training was conducted by officers of the unit and the embedded Maritime Aerial Surveillance expert from EUCAP NESTOR, Bjorn Erlandsson. It concluded after four weeks of training, which involved technical subjects and in flight demonstration on the use of mission equipment on the Dornier 228 surveillance aircraft.
“I have learnt a lot of things and feel all at the unit should be exposed to such knowledge and skills” said Airman Adrian Barbe, a student pilot.
Major Michael Pouponneau, the Commanding Officer of the Seychelles Air Force said that “As a result of this training, the six airmen are now in a better position to understand the organization they served and also enhance their knowledge on the mission of the Air Force. I would like to say thank you to EUCAP Nestor and all Officers of the Seychelles Air Force for realizing this milestone.”
Training covered an introduction to the SAF, operations, administration, maintenance, It structure, fire, medical, emergency procedures, aircraft familiarization, meteorology, company manuals and in flight training. Students passed all exams and provided feedback for the course in order to improve future basic training for the SAF. There will be further assistance relating to training for the unit and other forms of essential support such as equipment, EUCAP Nestor said.
The Seamanship and legal training module developed by EUCAP Nestor for the newly created Marine Police Patrol Unit (MPPU) ended earlier this month. These modules lasted for five weeks in total, with nine police officers attending.
“We are very grateful to EUCAP Nestor for providing this training,” said Police Commissioner Ernest Quatre. “Getting the Unit up and running is a major priority for us. The unit will have a positive impact on maritime crime, environmental offences and the safety and security of our boating community.”
This training included the following sessions: navigation, boat handling, safety at sea, maintenance and legal training. The EUCAP Nestor expert from the Spanish Guardia Civil, José-Luis Manzanares Segura, was sent specifically to the Seychelles to develop and deliver the training for the MPPU.
During the Legal Training, next to lectures done by Manzanares and Agatha Bouten, different representatives of Seychelles maritime institutes provided lectures including NDEA, Prosecution, Licence Authority, Customs, Port Authority, Police Academy and Environment Authority.
The Legal training was finalised with a Court hearing visit. There will be further assistance relating to the Unit’s institutional set up and other forms of essential support such as equipment, EUCAP Nestor said.
