Three people remain missing at sea after the Galatea vessel incident. Search and rescue operations continue near Marie Louise Island in Seychelles.
The owner and patron of the vessel appeared before the Supreme Court of Seychelles on Monday 16 March 2026. The Seychelles Police Department confirmed this.
Police said the suspect is a 61-year-old French national who lives at Beau Vallon.
After the court appearance, the court remanded him in police custody for 14 days.
Investigators are examining alleged offences of “Conveying a Person by Water for Hire in an Unsafe or Overloaded Vessel” and “Rash and Negligent Act,” police said in a communiqué.
Meanwhile, authorities said search operations remain underway following the incident involving the vessel Galatea. The vessel was suspected of sinking on 13 March 2026.
Search teams continue to operate in waters near Marie Louise Island. The Seychelles Maritime Safety Authority confirmed this in a press release.
“Search and rescue operations remain ongoing in the vicinity of Marie Louise Island following the incident involving the vessel GALATEA,” the authority said.
Officials said 13 people were on board the vessel at the time of the incident.
Authorities rescued 10 people, while three remain unaccounted for.
The missing individuals include one Seychellois man and two Swiss nationals, according to police.
Search teams recovered equipment linked to the vessel during operations on Sunday.
“An empty life raft and the vessel’s tender were recovered from the water on Sunday,” the Seychelles Maritime Safety Authority said.
Officials later towed the tender to Desroches Island, the authority added.
The agency said the exact status of the vessel has not yet been confirmed.
Authorities said several agencies continue to work together during the response.
“The Maritime Incident Board, in collaboration with the Seychelles Police Force and other relevant authorities, continues to conduct investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident,” police said.
Search teams are using both air and sea assets during the operation.
According to the Seychelles Maritime Safety Authority, search and rescue operations have totalled about 40 operational hours since the incident occurred.
Officials said they will release further updates when more information becomes available.