PS Contant is a Trinkat-class patrol vessel owned and operated by the Seychelles Coast Guard. She was formerly operated by the Indian Navy as INS Tarasa (T63).[1] India, as well as the United Arab Emirates, have helped equip the Seychelles Coast Guard with patrol vessels.[2][3][4][5][6] India and the UAE helped equip the tiny Seychelles with these patrol vessels due to its strategic location, very near the area off the Horn of Africa that is notorious for pirate attacks.
 PS Constant just prior to her commissioning into the Seychelles Coast Guard
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 India | |
| Name | INS Tarasa |
| Namesake | Tarasa Dwip |
| Builder | Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers |
| Commissioned | 24 August 2001 |
| Identification | T63 |
| Fate | Transferred to Seychelles Coast Guard on 7 November 2014 |
 Seychelles | |
| Name | PS Constant |
| Commissioned | 7 November 2014 |
| Status | In service |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Trinkat-class patrol vessel |
| Displacement | 319 long tons (324 t) |
| Speed | 28 knots (52 km/h) |
India's most senior naval officer, Robin Dhowan, traveled to Seychelles, for the official handover.[7] She was the second vessel India turned over to Seychelles. Tarmugli was re-christened PS Topaz when she was transferred in 2005.[8]
References
edit- ^ "India gifts second patrol ship to Seychelles – 'PS Constant' has the youngest Seychellois commanding officer". Seychelles News Agency. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
- ^
John Lablache, Sharon Uranie (7 November 2014). "India gifts second patrol ship to Seychelles – 'PS Constant' has the youngest Seychellois commanding officer". Seychelles News Agency. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
Apart from Etoile and Constant there are four other patrol vessels in the Seychelles Coast Guard's fleet; Topaz, Andromache (built in Italy in 1982 and funded by the Seychelles government) and La Flèche and Le Vigilant (both gifted by the UAE in 2011). - See more at:
- ^
"A milestone in our relations"- Indian Navy hands over patrol ship to Seychelles Coast Guard". Seychelles Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 11 October 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
Seychelles now has 6 patrol ships: Topaz, Constant, Andromache, Etoile, La Flèche and Le Vigilant.
- ^
"UAE hands over 5 Coast Guard vessels". Seychelles Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 1 April 2011. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
Two of these patrol boats are 30 metres long and can carry around 15 people each. The first has been named La Flèche and the second is Le Vigilant.
- ^
Ramola Talwar Badam (11 March 2013). "UAE a vital ally in piracy war". Dubai: The National. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
Over the past few years, the UAE has provided the Seychelles with a coast guard headquarters, radar stations, patrol boats and surveillance aircraft. There are now about 100 Somali pirates facing jail terms in the Seychelles and helping provide information about piracy gangs.
- ^
"UAE donates patrol vessels to Seychelles". Workboat World. 10 January 2011. Archived from the original on 10 January 2011. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
"The UAE pledged the donation of five maritime patrol vessels in July last year... We are deeply grateful for this gesture and we note its importance as our fight against piracy is an immediate concern, which requires swift action and concrete support from the international community," said Seychellois President Michel.
- ^
"Dhowan to hand over Fast Attack Craft to Seychelles tomorrow". New Delhi: Deccan Herald. 6 November 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
INS Tarasa, which has been recently refitted at Naval Dockyard Mumbai, will join her sister ship SCG Topaz as part of the Indian Navy's assistance to Seychelles Coast Guard in capacity building towards meeting her maritime security needs.
- ^
"'INS Tarasa' becomes 'PS Constant'". Indian Navy. 7 November 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
INS Tarasa (re-christened PS Constant) is the second fast Attack Craft to be gifted by the Government of India to Seychelles in the recent times, the previous being INS Tarmugli that was renamed PS Topaz.
External links
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