ADF STAFF | photos by U.S. NAVY
Divers from the U.S. Navy and the Seychelles Coast Guard (SCG) spent up to eight hours a day in December 2022 removing the wreckage of the Oceans Bounty, a ship that sank in 2018.
The Seychelles Police Authority’s chief executive, Sony Payet, said the wreckage was a navigational hazard near Port Victoria and was blocking valuable pier space. “The removal of this wreck is necessary to clear the seabed in this area as the new key wall to be constructed will reach up to this point, and there will be a lot of boat activities here in the future,” Payet said.
The U.S. also assisted with an ocean floor survey of the Seychelles harbor and the SCG pier areas.
U.S. Navy Seabee divers assigned to Underwater Construction Team 1 (UCT1) worked in tandem with SCG divers. This mission lays the groundwork for future diving engagements between the SCG and U.S. forces.
“Working with the Seychelles Coast Guard has been a great experience,” said Chief Petty Officer Estephan Lopez. “They are an extremely professional group of divers and were more than willing to contribute their diving expertise throughout the job. I look forward to working with them more in the future.”
Seabee divers used exothermic cutting tools to break the wreck into small pieces before removing debris from the water. This let them complete the task with minimal disturbance to the environment.
“This mission was a perfect way for us to practice what we train on,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Nicholas Ramirez, a diver who participated in the mission. “Underwater cutting is a really specialized part of our job as Seabee Divers, and it’s awesome to be able to employ that capability in a way that actually helps the people in Seychelles.”
Seychellois divers agreed that events like this help the two nations work together. They also said these joint projects enhance diving skills and expertise.
“It was a great experience for the Seychelles Coast Guard dive team,” said Capt. Luigi Loizeau, diving officer with the SCG. “The CTF 68 divers are a dedicated professional and coordinated team. I wish that these partnerships continue in the future as the collaboration is a great learning opportunity.”
In addition to salvage operations, Seabee divers completed an ocean floor survey of the entire port, identifying ship passageways and the underwater landscape. UCT1 mapped more than 1.7 million square meters, providing a clear, concise and detailed map of the Port of Victoria’s topography while providing 3D imaging of other underwater hazards.