PS Topaz is a Trinkat-class patrol vessel owned and operated by the Seychelles Coast Guard. She was formerly operated by the Indian Navy as INS Tarmugli (T64). India, like China and the United Arab Emirates, have helped equip the Seychelles Coast Guard with patrol vessels.[1][2][3][4][5] India, China, 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 Topaz in 2013
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 India | |
| Name | INS Tarmugli |
| Namesake | Tarmugli Island |
| Builder | Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers |
| Commissioned | 4 March 2002 |
| Identification | T64 |
| Fate | Transferred to Seychelles Coast Guard on 23 February 2005 |
 Seychelles | |
| Name | PS Topaz |
| Commissioned | 23 February 2005 |
| Status | In service |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Trinkat-class patrol vessel |
In 2005, she was the first vessel India turned over to Seychelles.[6] A sister ship, re-christened PS Constant, was transferred in 2014.[7]
It participated in anti-piracy action of 30 March 2010.
References
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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:
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"A milestone in our relations"- Indian Navy hands over patrol ship to Seychelles Coast Guard". Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Seychelles). 11 October 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
Seychelles now has 6 patrol ships: Topaz, Constant, Andromache, Etoile, La Flèche and Le Vigilant.
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"UAE hands over 5 Coast Guard vessels". Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Seychelles). 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.
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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.
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"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.
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"'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.
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"Dhowan to hand over Fast Attack Craft to Seychelles tomorrow". Deccan Herald. New Delhi. 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.
External links
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