President Herminie Undertakes Familiarization Visit to National and Regional Maritime Security Centres
The President of the Republic and Commander-in-Chief of the Seychelles Defence Forces, Dr. Patrick Herminie, conducted a familiarization visit to the National Information Sharing and Coordination Centre (NISCC) and the Regional Coordination Operations Centre (RCOC) this week.
The visit provided an important opportunity for officers and staff of both Centres to brief the President on their operations, demonstrate their capabilities, and discuss how their work contributes to safeguarding Seychelles’ maritime domain.
During the tour, President Herminie received detailed briefings on ongoing surveillance, response, and coordination efforts undertaken by the two Centres. He was also briefed on the processes in place for detecting and responding to illegal activities at sea, as well as the inter-agency collaboration required to ensure safety, security, and resilience across the Seychelles Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Established through a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2018, the National Information Sharing and Coordination Centre serves as a multi-agency platform for information sharing and operational coordination. NISCC plays a central role in monitoring the EEZ, coordinating maritime distress and search-and-rescue incidents within the Seychelles Search and Rescue Region, and facilitating intelligence-led responses to illegal and illicit maritime activities.
The Regional Coordination Operations Centre, also based at Bois de Rose, was created under a multilateral agreement signed by Comoros, Djibouti, France, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, and Seychelles in 2018. The RCOC provides a framework for regional cooperation and coordinates operations of shared strategic interest, including the fight against piracy, transnational organized crime, and illegal activities at sea. It also supports environmental protection initiatives, assists with regional search-and-rescue activities, and contributes to restoring safety and security in regional maritime navigation when required.
Source : State House Seychelles
