A Seychellois Maritime Academy Graduate’s Pioneering Journey
Rye-Anne Vel, a graduate of the Seychelles Maritime Academy’s (SMA) Advanced Certificate in Marine Mechanics, has embarked on a groundbreaking internship. She will be gaining hands-on experience aboard the Glalerna II, a large purse seiner operated by the Spanish company Isabela Fishing Ltd, in collaboration with ALBACORE from Bermeo, Spain.
This unique opportunity was made possible through negotiations between the Principal Secretary and the Director General of the Fisheries Department within the Ministry of Fisheries and the Blue Economy. It is a landmark venture, offering SMA graduates the chance to receive first-hand training on a commercial purse seiner. This collaboration is a testament to the support and encouragement the Ministry provides to the SMA, which has seen numerous new ventures since its transfer to the Ministry of Fisheries and the Blue Economy.
About the Vessel
The Glalerna II, built in 2012, is a substantial vessel with a gross tonnage of 3445. It measures 95.70 meters in length, has a breadth of 15.20 meters, and a draft of 7.15 meters. Ry-Anne joined the vessel on August 15, 2025, and will be part of a diverse crew of 37 members, a mix of Spanish and African nationals.
Farewells and Future Interns
To see Rye-Anne off, her mother, Sandra, and the Director of the SMA were at the port. Also present were the next two graduates set to join the company as interns, Neil Asemia and Dylan Revera.
Rye-Anne will not be the only Seychellois aboard; another SMA graduate, Annalisa, is already on the vessel serving as a fisheries observer. Over the course of her four-month internship, Ry-Anne will primarily be working in the engine room, while also learning about tuna fishing techniques.
