Another Milestone for the SEYPEC tanker fleet

Long-haul tanker manned by entirely by a Seychellois crew for the first time

In a historic first for the Seychelles Petroleum Company (SEYPEC), one of its international tankers, the MT Seychelles Prelude, is currently undertaking a major transatlantic voyage with a 100% Seychellois crew — marking a significant milestone in the nation’s maritime journey.

The 16-member team, headed by Master Richard Payet, a seasoned mariner and proud son of Seychelles, is sailing from Rotterdam, Europe’s largest port, to Quebec and Montreal, Canada, transporting a cargo of gasoline. Allain Asba, Head of Shipping at SEYPEC evaluates this achievement: ‘This voyage, the MT Seychelles Prelude’s 286th, not only underscores SEYPEC’s commitment to developing local maritime expertise but also symbolizes the culmination of years of investment in training, certification, and mentorship for Seychellois seafarers.’

The crew proudly upholding the Seychelles flag at Rotterdam, Netherlands

What makes this moment truly special is the complete absence of foreign contractual workers on board — a first in SEYPEC’s operational history for such a high-value long-haul assignment. The initiative illustrates the depth of local talent and the maturity of Seychelles’ maritime training ecosystem, which has successfully groomed professionals capable of managing complex international voyages entirely on their own. ‘This is a proud moment for SEYPEC and Seychelles,’ said Allain Asba, ‘it proves that our long-term vision to empower local talent in the maritime sector is not only paying off but setting new benchmarks in the region.’

Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the company far from the motherland

The Seychelles Prelude is expected to arrive in Quebec tomorrow April 5, 2025, after the voyage which would have lasted approximately 12 days. Part of the cargo will be offloaded in Quebec, with the remainder delivered in Montreal.

The full Seychellois crew includes:

• Richard Payet – Master
• Nelson Adrienne
• Vanessa Thomas
• Martin Servina – 2nd Officer
• David De Letourdie
• Claude Desnousse
• Ashley Soopramanian
• Luigi Germain
• Tariq Khan
• Andrew Julienne
• Jude Poris
• Elsie Servina
• Benjamin Houareau
• Anil Bacco
• Brian Rosette
• McShane Bibi