Following the establishment of Piriou Reunion in 2018, the Piriou Group is continuing its development in the Indian Ocean and is setting up a base in Mahé in the Seychelles, one of the centres of the Indian Ocean tuna industry.
This is a partnership with UCPS under chairman Joseph F. Albert and CEO Grégory Albert, a major industrial and economic player in the Seychelles for the last 50 years, as they set up Piriou Seychelles Ltd.
The new company, with workshops located in Ile du Port in Seychelles Port Authority’s (SPA) Marine Engineering Centre, very close to the Ile du Port Handling Services (IPHS) wharf and the tuna seiner landing wharf, will initially offer its ship maintenance services to civil and military operators.
The company will have the support of the UCPS and Piriou Reunion staff and also the engineering capacity of the Piriou Group.
‘As announced in 2017, Piriou is giving itself the means to extend its international network of services for vessel operators, whether or not they are historically customers of the Group’s shipyards. After Piriou Reunion, the creation of Piriou Seychelles Ltd is a new stage in our positioning in the Indian Ocean,’ said Piriou Group chairman Vincent Faujour, commenting that this new venture is part of Piriou’s strategy to create regional bases allowing it, in association with a local partner, to be nearer to its longstanding customers and to provide local and quality services to the same standards as its European shipyards.
‘This new base will allow us to strengthen the links with our historical deep sea tuna fishing customers such as Sapmer and CFTO, and also to develop new relationships with other tuna operators and also of course with companies operating supply vessels and long-distance cruise vessels from the Seychelles. We are setting up a base in Mahé, Ile du Port, with confidence in the future of Piriou Seychelles, thanks to our partner UCPS, with whom we share the same values.’
According to UCPS CEO Grégory Albert, chairman Joseph F Albert has for some years now he has wanted to invest in the ship repair sector, as he is an owner of passenger ships and LCT barges serving the islands in the Seychelles archipelago.
‘Concerning the tuna fishing fleet operating out of Mahé, it was noticeable at a very early stage that there was a lack of high-quality services up to the standard of the best European shipyards in the region,’ he said.
‘When an opportunity arose with Piriou group, with whom we share the same values, it was evident to us that this partnership would serve our initial vision, and would represent the start of an exciting adventure. We are pulling out all the stops locally to ensure Piriou Seychelles Ltd is a success.’
