Commission established to investigate maritime incident
Crew members missing after maritime incident
SEYCHELLES: Two crewmembers are still missing after an incident on Wednesday involving the Seychelles Coast Guard vessel, Andromache, which had been deployed to tow a vessel out for scuttling during a routine operation.
President Dr Patrick Herminie, in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the Seychelles Defence Forces, has ordered the establishment of an Independent Commission of Inquiry to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident involving three officers, only one of whom has since been rescued.
The Commission will be constituted with a mandate to conduct a thorough, independent and impartial investigation into the cause of the incident, including the circumstances leading up to it, the conduct of the operation at the time, and the adequacy of the safety protocols and procedures in place. The Commission will further be tasked with making recommendations to prevent the recurrence of similar incidents in future.
Members of the Commission will be announced in due course. President Herminie has reaffirmed his continued support for the affected officers, their families, and the wider Seychelles Coast Guard and Defence Forces, and has commended their professionalism and dedication throughout this difficult period.
“As Commander-in-Chief of the Seychelles Defence Forces, I have ordered that every available resource remain committed to the search for our two missing soldiers, and I commend the officers and personnel currently engaged in this operation, who continue to work tirelessly on the water and in the air for their colleagues despite challenging weather conditions in the search area. I assure the nation that no effort is being spared, and that the families concerned are being kept fully and directly informed as the operation progresses,” he said in a statement today.
PHOTO: The Andromache was handed over to the Seychelles Coast Guard in March 2025 as a gift from the People’s Republic of China. (archive photo from Seychelles Defence Force)
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