VICTORIA, Seychelles – To further enhance the relationship between Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) and Seychelles, CMF’s Philippine-led Combined Task Force (CTF) 151 visited the Seychelles capital to meet with authorities from a range of key organizations.  

Over 12-13 December, CTF 151, headed by CAPT. Mateo Carido, visited the Regional Coordination Operation Center (RCOC), National Information Sharing and Coordination Centre (NISCC), the Seychelles Defense Force Headquarters and Seychelles Coast Guard Headquarters.  

Representing each organization were RCOC Director, CAPT. Sam Gontier; the Director of NISCC, CAPT. Gerald Wong-Pool; Commander of Seychelles Coast Guard, Lt. Col. David Arrisol; and the Chief of Seychelles People’s Defense Force, Brigadier Michael Rosete.  

During the visit, CAPT. Carido updated the organizations on the current situation in CMF’s area of operations. Included was CTF 151’s mission statement counter-piracy operations, the significance of information sharing and the value of participating in Maritime Security Enhancement Training, offered by CMF’s CTF 154. In return, both RCOC and NISCC provided briefs, including a question-and-answer section to help CTF 151 better understand each organization’s missions and functions.  

The RCOC is dedicated to coordinating operations at sea and has been operational since 2019, remaining active with 24/7 watch-keepers. NISCC acts as an agency for information sharing and coordinates a broad spectrum of aviation and maritime safety and security activities. These activities include Search and Rescue (SAR) in the air, land and maritime spaces.  

Seychelles is part of the Maritime Security in Eastern Africa (MASE) program, funded by the European Union and led by the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC). Its foundation is the notion that cooperation and coordination is the safest and most effective way to improve maritime control and surveillance.  

On behalf of CMF, CAPT. Carido expressed his gratitude and appreciation for the support and generous hospitality of the Seychelles leadership, as well as for providing a Senior National Representative (SNR) to CMF.