The Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) say they are determined to deepen their due diligence efforts in the drive to secure the nation’s maritime space.

Both strategic maritime security management institutions reiterated this position at the handover of MT DEIMA, an oil tanker arrested by personnel of the Forward Operating Base (FOB), Bonny on Monday, September 13, 2021 in Bonny, Rivers State.

The Acting Commanding Officer of the FOB, Lt. Commander Eyioefe Ekah handed over the vessel to the Chief Enforcement Officer (CEO) of NIMASA Bonny Outstation, Dakoru Egbaimo.

Represented by the Base Operations Officer (BOO) of the FOB, Sub Lt. Anuoluwapo Gbenga Adeusi, the FOB boss disclosed that the seized vessel, MT DEIMA was arrested by the Navy for switching off its Automatic Identification System (AIS) between Saturday and Monday, July 24 to 26, 2021, which made it impossible for its nautical position to be ascertained.

“The vessel, MT DEIMA was seized due to AIS infraction, the AIS was switched off from 24th to 26th of July 2021. Hence the arrest of the vessel to carry out further investigations, we are directed to handover the seized vessel to appropriate prosecuting agencies.”

The Automatic Identification System (AIS) helps ships and other sea going vessels identify each other’s nautical position by transmitting each vessel or ship’s position to others to avoid collisions.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) and other maritime management bodies require large ships, including commercial fishing vessels, to broadcast their position with AIS in order to avoid collisions.

This has assisted ground stations and satellites pick up information about ships and other vessels thus making vessels trackable even in the most remote areas of the ocean as each year, more than 400,000 AIS devices broadcast vessel location, identity, course, and speed information.

In Nigeria, switching off the AIS on a ship or other sea going vessels is a crime under the nation’s maritime laws and offenders could face time in jail including paying a heavy fine with the possibility of the ship or vessel being banned from the nation’s territorial waters. 

Ekah explained that the handover signified the “robust synergy between the Nigerian Navy and NIMASA, likewise the fact that we tend to conduct our own investigations, and definitely handover the seized vessel to the appropriate prosecuting agency for further investigations”.

On his part, the Chief Enforcement Officer (CEO) of NIMASA Bonny Outstation, Dakoru Egbaimo, who was represented by PEO Paul Chika Ochulor, stated that the handover was significant as it underscores the cordial relationship existing between various government agencies aimed at achieving a better and secure shipping environment.

“The significance is that it shows the cordial relationship that exists amongst various government agencies to achieve better and secure shipping.”

He informed that his agency would ensure that due diligence is carried out on the vessel to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the suspected crime and any other associated offences, adding that where the infraction is verified, necessary prosecution will be initiated against the vessel and its owner.

“Now that the vessel has been handed over to NIMASA, it is now under the custody of NIMASA, thorough inspection will be carried out to ascertain the infraction and if there are other areas found wanting.”

The Nigerian Navy through its Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Bonny, in concert with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Bonny Outstation, have been working assiduously to assure security and safety for both sea going vessels and sailors along the Bonny Channel, which is a critical component of the Gulf of Guinea security corridor.