President of the Republic of Seychelles, Dr Patrick Herminie attended the official handover ofConstant, a new Fast Response Boat (FRB) to the Seychelles Coast Guard, at the Coast Guard Base, Perseverance

The boat, named Constant, was provided under a Government of Japan-funded project implemented by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), aimed at strengthening maritime law enforcement capabilities in East Africa through the provision of modern equipment, technical expertise, standardised operational approaches and capacity building.

The new Fast Response Boat will enhance the Seychelles Coast Guard’s patrol, surveillance and response capabilities, while supporting the development of the technical skills required to operate and maintain maritime assets effectively.

Constructed from fibre-reinforced plastic and powered by three 300-horsepower outboard engines, Constant has a cruising range of approximately 200 nautical miles and can reach speeds of up to 50 knots. Equipped for both day and night operations, the vessel will strengthen the Coast Guard’s capacity to respond rapidly to incidents and conduct maritime law enforcement operations across Seychelles’ extensive maritime domain.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Ambassador of Japan to Seychelles, Mr Sakuta Makoto, expressed hope that the Fast Response Boat would contribute to strengthening maritime law enforcement capabilities in the region, including those of the Seychelles Coast Guard.

He further noted that, since February 2025, Japan has commissioned UNODC to implement a project under its Global Maritime Crime Programme, aimed at “Improving Sustainability of Maritime Law Enforcement Agencies in East Africa.” He noted that Japan has contributed US$5 million towards the implementation of the project in six countries: Seychelles, Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius and Tanzania.

He emphasised the importance of ensuring that the boat can be properly maintained locally, noting that a maintenance system should be put in place to enable Seychelles to undertake its maintenance and management independently. He highlighted the maintenance training conducted in July this year, which equipped local personnel with the skills necessary to support the long-term operation of the boat.

Reflecting on Seychelles’ position as an ocean nation, Ms Lisa Singh, UN Resident Coordinator for Mauritius and Seychelles, highlighted the country's important role in the wider Indian Ocean regional maritime security architecture.

She noted that, through its strategic location and extensive Exclusive Economic Zone, Seychelles plays an important role in combating piracy, illegal fishing, drug trafficking and other forms of transnational maritime crime. She further recognised the contribution of the Seychelles Coast Guard, the Maritime Operations Centre and the National Information Sharing and Coordination Centre to maritime surveillance, information sharing and coordinated operations with regional and international partners.

Ms Singh also highlighted Seychelles' participation in multinational exercises and its continued efforts to strengthen maritime security governance and operational capacity, reinforcing the country's role as an important security partner in the Western Indian Ocean.

Ms Singh concluded that the handover was a practical demonstration of Sustainable Development Goal 17, which promotes partnerships for sustainable development, highlighting that effective international and local partnerships can achieve significant

In his vote of thanks, Chief of the Seychelles Defence Forces, Major General Michael Rosette, highlighted the longstanding partnership between UNODC and the Seychelles Coast Guard, noting that it has supported a range of interlinked initiatives aimed at strengthening maritime security, maritime law enforcement and institutional capacity in Seychelles. Major General Rosette also expressed special appreciation to the Government of Japan for its continued partnership and generous support, which has played an important role in advancing Seychelles' maritime operational capabilities through UNODC.

The handover of the Constant further strengthens Seychelles' capacity to safeguard its maritime space, protect its resources and support the security and livelihoods of communities that depend on the ocean.

Also in attendance were Brigadier Jean Attala, Deputy Chief of Defence Forces, Colonel Micheal Hollanda, Chief of Staff, Mr Koen Marquering, Deputy Regional Representative from UNODC, Ms Olga Kogay, Regional Programme Coordinator from UNODC,  and representative from Yamaha, as well as senior officers from the Seychelles Coast Guards.