As part of existing collaborative efforts between regional maritime security agencies in the Gulf of Guinea under the Yaounde Code of Conduct on Maritime security in the region and in line with the Chief of Naval staff strategic end state towards a safe and secure Maritime environment in enhancing the Nation’s blue economy, The Nigerian Navy says it has arrested a fleeing vessel, MV BLU-SHARK, with IMO number 8767783, which allegedly escaped from Port Gentil in Gabon.
In a statement from the Director of Naval Information, Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu sent to Newsflash 247, the Multinational Maritime Coordination Center D had issued an alert message for a search and possible arrest of MV BLU-SHARK, which allegedly left the Port Gentil in Gabon without obtaining necessary Customs Clearance documents from the Gabonese Martime, Judicial and Customs authorities.
The statement further clarified that the Nigerian Navy following the alert, used her Maritime Domain Awareness facilities to vector Nigerian Navy Ship OSE (NNS OSE) to intercept and arrest the vessel on the 6th of May 2024 off Calabar Waters.
Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu also added that the Nigerian Navy will on its own, conduct preliminary investigations to ascertain the veracity of the allegation with a view to handling the vessel in line with the dictates of the Yaounde Code of Conduct.
He also mentioned that the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla used the opportunity of the laudable feat to commend officers and ratings of NNS OSE for their professionalism in apprehending the alleged fleeing vessel while reiterating Nigerian Navy’s commitment to collaborating with neighbouring countries to combat transnational maritime crimes in the region.
