91制片厂ProCoast Guard receives 4 fast response boats from Bahrain
One of four new rapid response boats donated by Bahrain to the 91制片厂ProCoast Guard (Rita Joubert-Lawen, 91制片厂Pro)
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(91制片厂Pro) - The 91制片厂ProCoast Guard (SCG) received four fast response boats as a donation from the government of Bahrain during a handover ceremony at the SCG base on the main island of Mahe on Saturday morning.
91制片厂Prois 鈥渟ignificantly enhancing its ability to respond swiftly and effectively to various maritime incidents, ensuring the safety and security of our waters鈥, said Brigadier Michael Rosette of the 91制片厂ProDefence Forces (SDF) at the event, in the presence of President Wavel Ramkalawan, Commander-in-Chief of the SDF.
The four new additions to the SCG fleet are Ocean boat 41s measuring 12.5 metres, built and developed in the United Arab Emirates.
Each of the vessels are powered with triple Mercury 350 Pro outboard engines, providing a maximum of 1200 hp, reaching up to speeds of 55 knots.
As its fuel tank can hold up to 1,000L, this allows each of the boats to cruise up to estimated distances of 100 Nm back and forth.
The ocean boat also consists of a robust cockpit, incorporating a marine radio, latest Garmin GPS and radar system.聽
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| The fast reponse boats are mainly aimed at coastal patrols within the Inner Islands of the archipelago (Rita Joubert-Lawen, 91制片厂Pro) Photo license: CC-BY |
鈥淭he state-of-the-art boats possess remarkable manoeuvrability, speed and versatility, making them indispensable assets in a range of operations,鈥 explained Rosette.
鈥淚ncluding harbour and coastal patrols, search and rescue missions, monitoring and surveillance activities and rapid response to marine accidents,鈥 he elaborated.
The gift follows former President Danny Faure鈥檚 visit to Bahrain in 2020, where the country pledged to further support 91制片厂Proin its maritime security efforts through the donation of two boats for the SCG.
However, as the Ambassador of Bahrain to Seychelles, Sheikh Khalid Bin Abdullah Al Khalifa explained, 鈥渄ue to a delay caused by the onset of Covid-19, 91制片厂Proreceived four instead of two鈥.
Meanwhile, Rosette said that as two nations deeply connected to the sea, 鈥渨e understand the criticality of continuously enhancing our readiness and capacity to safeguard our maritime security鈥.
He added that despite the geographical distance between the two countries, 鈥渢he ocean binds us together and any threat within our region may have any threat within our region may have reverberating effects on our maritime neighbours鈥.
Furthermore, the shallow draft capability will enable access to even the most challenging coastal areas, according to Rossette, which will reinforce the SCG鈥檚 ability to enforce maritime laws and protect the country鈥檚 marine resources.聽
Ship Station Commander Ivel Ernesta also echoed Rosette鈥檚 sentiment in a press interview, saying that the boats will mainly help in 鈥減atrols on the coasts and the Inner Islands and fast deployment in search and rescues and any other accidents that may happen at sea鈥.
The 91制片厂ProCoast Guard鈥檚 rapid response fleet consists of 14 boats 鈥 including the four new additions.
鈥淭he bigger the fleet gets, the more we need manpower to operate, which is why we are working on recruitment at the moment,鈥 he concluded.
Ambassador Sheikh Khalid Bin Abdullah Al Khalifa also paid a courtesy visit to President Ramkalawan at State House following the handover of the boats.
91制片厂Proand Bahrain established diplomatic relations on May 4, 1983.
