NORTHWOOD, England, Oct. 28 (UPI) -- The EU Naval Force Somalia has offered coalition warships countering piracy a new fueling facility in the Seychelles.
The EU NAVFOR contract with the Seychelles Petroleum Co. will establish F44 helicopter fuel delivery facilities in the Seychelles' Port Victoria to be available to all military counter-piracy warships, EU NAVFOR stated in a release.
EU NAVFOR Operational Headquarters Royal Marines logistic expert and project leader at Northwood, Maj. George Wiseman, said: "This new asset will deeply improve the operational capabilities of the counter-piracy naval forces in the Indian Ocean by significantly reducing a logistical constraint for the warships.
"More than a simple fuel facility, it provides greater flexibility and efficiency opportunities to the counter-piracy warships, and thereby the possibility to stay longer at sea to fulfill our mission. This project has been truly collaborative between Seychelles authorities, NATO fuel experts and EU maritime experts."
The Seychelles has worked closely with EU NAVFOR in the past and the new facility is increasing the archipelago's importance as a major support base of EU NAVFOR in the south part of the Somali Basin.
