• Credits Seychelles Coast Guard and Special Forces for pulling off high-risk rescue mission mid-sea
• Stresses on need for bilateral and regional cooperation for maritime security and safety in the Indian Ocean

Regional cooperation and joint training are essential for small island states to manage their maritime security and safety concerns, visiting Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF) Chief of Defence Staff Brigadier Michael Rosette said, in an exclusive interview with The Sunday Morning. 

His visit to Colombo comes as a group of SDF personnel wrap up a specialist maritime security training programme conducted in Trincomalee with support from the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Seychelles and Sri Lanka have a well-established security cooperation relationship, and both island nations are partners of the regional security architecture.

In January, the SDF sprang into action when Somali pirates hijacked the Sri Lankan fishing trawler Lorenzo Putha IV with six Sri Lankans onboard and began to steer them towards Somalia. 

The SDF, using maritime patrol aircraft, located the Sri Lankan vessel and, with ‘near real-time’ intelligence from the SLN and support from India and the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) in Bahrain, launched a coordinated rescue operation, which successfully rescued the Lankans. 

The pirates are facing trial in Seychelles and the Lankan fishermen later returned home. Brig. Rosette described what transpired during the tense period in late January when the act of piracy occurred.

Following are excerpts of the interview:

How would you describe the maritime security relationship between the Seychelles and Sri Lanka at present?

Seychelles and Sri Lanka are island nations. By virtue of our location in the Indian Ocean, maritime security and safety are primordial to the survival of island states. Therefore, in terms of maritime security and safety, both countries are members of a number of regional organisations. We are members of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS), we are in the Colombo Security Conclave (not a full member) and in the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), and we are also a participant in the Galle Dialogue held in Sri Lanka. Now, we are both members of the CMF, headquartered in Bahrain. 

I think both nations believe that maritime security is essential for trade, leisure, and other sectors. In a free world, we should not be hindered by certain parties that think they can do whatever they want to do in the oceans. The oceans should be used properly and in a safe manner so that everyone can benefit from them. Therefore, Seychelles and Sri Lanka have a bilateral military relationship and we also engage in training and conferences via the UNODC. This week, one of the reasons I am in Colombo is to attend the closing ceremony of a training programme in which officers from the Seychelles Coast Guard and Special Forces are participating.

There has been re-emergence of non-state actors in the Western Indian Ocean in the Red Sea area and a return of piracy in the seas close to Seychelles. Do you see this as a disruption of the established order in the maritime domain in that area?

It is a disruption, because a lot of shipping companies have had to reroute their ships to travel around South Africa’s Cape of Good Hope. As a consequence it has impacted freight and insurance costs, which in turn has affected the price of the commodities. This has affected most countries, with the cost of living increasing.

Both Sri Lanka and the Seychelles are partners of the CMF. How important is it for small island nations to be part of the regional security architecture?

It is important because you are in a coalition with bigger partners who have more assets, resources, experience, and clout. From being part of CMF, you get access to training, you get to have your station with them, and have access to all the information and situational awareness that come with it. Partners contribute aircraft, vessels, and assets to patrol certain areas to stem piracy, terrorism, and trafficking of arms and drugs.

When the Sri Lankan fishing vessel Lorenzo Putha IV was hijacked by Somali pirates in January, how did Seychelles respond? What type of coordination was involved?

We were not surprised, as we were aware that there was a pirate group operating in the Northwest Indian Ocean. We thought they were a bit more north at the time. When we got the news that a Sri Lankan fishing vessel had been hijacked and was being taken towards Somalia, we immediately analysed the situation and made contact with the Sri Lankan naval intelligence and the SLN Commander. 

I was personally in touch with the SLN Commander and we shared intelligence, which they had. I believe the intelligence the SLN had was really essential because it was almost ‘real-time’ intelligence, which helped us gain a better picture of what was going on. We dispatched the Seychelles Coast Guard and a team of our Special Forces and tasked them with locating the vessel. We also spoke to other partners like the Indian Navy, Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR), and CMF.

Seychelles has experience in dealing with piracy during 2009 and 2010, so we knew what type of operation we would be engaging in. Once our maritime patrol aircraft managed to locate the Sri Lankan vessel, it directed our Coast Guard vessel towards it. We were making preparations; we were prepared for the worst scenario. We had called for assistance from India and other countries. 

However, after analysing the situation, the captain of our Coast Guard vessel and the operations commander decided it was time to act. They engaged the pirates and both sides used weapons, but we were able to close in and board the Sri Lankan vessel without any casualties, and apprehend the pirates in the act with evidence. This is important so that we can have a legal finish to the process.

Once we regained control of the vessel, it was towed back to our island. The Sri Lankan fishermen and the pirates were subjected to medical checkups and the pirates were handed over to law enforcement for legal action.

It was a risky operation, but our Coast Guard and Special Forces are well trained and experienced to handle this kind of mission. Having near real-time intelligence helped to reduce the risk and make a sound assessment on how to carry out the operation.

Since January, has there been any other pirate activity in the area?

Yes. There were several attempts on other foreign vessels. The latest one was in May, when the activity was outside our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). An EU Navy mission in the region responded with a ship and we dispatched an aircraft to help locate the vessel. The pirates later disembarked the vessel and fled.

Do you think the threat is managed or will it resurface again?

My view is that it may reemerge. At present and until October, during the monsoons the sea is rough, so it will be difficult for the Somali pirate ‘mother ships’ to operate far out at sea. When the weather changes, they may return. We are vigilant and work with partners to keep watch.

What is happening to the three pirates who were arrested onboard the Sri Lankan fishing boat?

Legal proceedings are ongoing and hopefully by the end of the year, the trial will be completed. We are hopeful that a fitting sentence will be given to the pirates.

When it comes to maritime security and safety, do you get good support and cooperation from the Sri Lankan authorities?

Yes, definitely. We have good cooperation with the Sri Lankan authorities, particularly the Sri Lanka Navy. During the incident we were in touch practically every hour. I know the Navy Commander and the Indian Navy Commander personally, which helps to coordinate quickly and understand each other’s perspectives during such times.