Seychelles strengthens maritime defences against nuclear and radioactive smuggling

The Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF) has recently completed a week-long workshop and training exercise focused on procedures for deploying radiological and nuclear detection equipment during maritime operations.

According to the Seychelles News Agency, the workshop and exercise were held at the Seychelles coast guard base at Perseverance and brought together personnel from the from the coast guard, special operations unit, the Disaster Risk Management Division and the attorney general's office.

Working with the United States Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration, the workshop focused on refining standard operating procedures and establishing clear roles and responsibilities for agencies responding to the possible detection of suspicious radioactive or nuclear material at sea. It concluded with a simulation in which a combined coast guard and special operations unit boarding team put the procedures into practice.

The training forms part of wider cooperation with the NNSA's Office of Nuclear Smuggling Detection and Deterrence (NSDD), which works internationally to prevent nuclear and other radioactive material from being trafficked or used for malicious purposes.

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