By Ajibola Adedoye
The Nigerian Navy (NN) using her Maritime Domain Awareness facilities vectored Nigerian Navy Ship OSE (NNS OSE) has intercepted MV BLU-SHARK with IMO number 8767783 in Calabar.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla who made this known to journalists disclosed that the vessel alleged to have escaped from Port Gentil Gabon on 2 May 2024 without obtaining necessary customs clearance documents from the Gabonese maritime, judicial and customs authorities.
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According to him, “NNS OSE successfully arrested the vessel at about 1152hours on 6 May 2024 at Latitude 040 49 929’E, Longitude 008017 602’E, off Calabar waters.
“The arrest of MV BLU-SHARK is part of existing collaborative efforts between regional maritime security agencies in the Gulf of Guinea under the Yaoundé Code of Conduct on Maritime Security in the Region.
“It is also in line with the Chief of Naval Staff Strategic end state towards a safe and secure maritime environment in order to enhance the Nation’s Blue Economy.
“The NN will conduct preliminary investigations to ascertain the veracity of the allegation with a view to handling the vessel in line with the dictates of the Yaoundé Code of Conduct” he stated.
Vice Admiral Ogalla however seized the opportunity to commend the officers and ratings of NNS OSE for their professionalism in apprehending the alleged fleeing vessel. He also reiterates the Navy’s commitment to collaborating with neighboring countries to combat transnational maritime crimes in the region.