VISAKHAPATNAM: Seychelles Coast Guard Patrol Ship (SCGPS) Topaz has completed her Medium Refit and was handed over to the Commander of Seychelles Coast Guard, Colonel Simone A Dine, by the Admiral Superintendent, Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam, Rear Admiral Narayan Prasad on Thursday. The ship underwent a Medium Refit at the Naval Dockyard from March 2016 to January 2017. The event was held at Naval Jetty inside INS Circars and attended by other dignitaries from Seychelles Coast Guard and Indian Navy.
The event commenced with the introduction of the officers and crew of SCGPS Topaz to Colonel Simone A Dine and Rear Admiral Narayan Prasad. General manager (Refit) Commodore IB Uthaiah gave a brief account on the progress of refit which was followed by an address by the Commanding Officer, SCGPS Topaz, Lieutenant Lydon Lablache.
The event concluded with a customary exchange of crests between the dignitaries and a walk around the ship. This event marked the culmination of the refit of SCGPS Topaz undertaken by the Indian Navy as a diplomatic courtesy to strengthen relations between India and the island nation of Seychelles in the Indian Ocean.
The SCGPS Topaz arrived last year for the International Fleet Review at Visakhapatnam and subsequently commenced her refit programme. Various upgrades in machinery, equipment and habitability were undertaken as part of the refit.
The ship is now fitted with the latest navigation, communication and weaponry to enhance the performance of the ship in the years to come. The refit spanned over 11 months with Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam, upgrading the equipment of the ship in every aspect to make it a potent force in the arsenal of Seychelles Coast Guard.
The SCGPS Topaz, former INS Tarmugli, was gifted to the Government of Seychelles by India in 2005 to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two nations and work together to ensure the safety of the Indian Ocean region. The ship, used as a patrol vessel by Seychelles Coast Guard is a Fast Attack Craft which served the Indian Navy from 2001 to 2005 before being handed over to Seychelles.