MV Le Revenant has joined the boat fleet of the Island Development Company (IDC) in Seychelles.
The vessel was officially christened on Thursday 12 March 2026 at the former IDC headquarters.
Vice President Sebastien Pillay and the Minister for Transport, Ports and Civil Aviation Veronique Laporte performed the traditional champagne-breaking ceremony. The maritime custom is meant to bring good luck, safety and prosperity to a new vessel and its crew.
The new vessel will support operations linking Seychelles’ outer islands with the main island.Speaking at the ceremony, IDC Chief Executive Officer Cyril Bonnelame said the vessel represents an important step for the organisation.
“The arrival of Revenant is not simply the launching of a new vessel. It is the launch of a new chapter for IDC and our enduring commitment to the development of the outer islands of Seychelles and to the men and women who live and work there.”
He said maritime transport remains essential for the company’s operations.
“For IDC, maritime connectivity is not a convenience, it is the lifeline of our operation. Our vessels transport essential supplies, equipment, fuel and provisions across long distances and often challenging seas.”
According to Mr Bonnelame, the vessel measures 30 metres in length and can carry 100 tonnes of cargo. It also includes a deck crane with a one-tonne capacity and a 12-metre extended boom, which will help loading and unloading operations at ports and island destinations.
Construction of the vessel started in 2022 at the MoC shipyard in Goa, India, by Australian Marine Technology. The project took nearly three years to complete after technical and logistical challenges delayed the schedule.
The vessel left India in mid-February on a ten-day voyage across the Indian Ocean. It arrived in Seychelles on 23 February with a crew of nine on board, including three Seychellois.
Mr Bonnelame said the vessel will strengthen the company’s operational capacity.“She is not simply a new addition to our fleet but a strategic asset purpose-built to support IDC’s mandate for many years to come.”
He added that the new vessel will operate alongside Enterprise Two, which has served IDC for nearly 15 years.
The company said it will also need to consider the eventual replacement of that vessel as part of future fleet renewal plans.