Navy Catches Up With MV BLU-SHARK Vessel On Nigerian Waters
The Nigerian Navy has incepted and arrested MV BLU-SHARK with IMO number 8767783 using her Maritime Domain Awareness facilities vectored Nigerian Navy Ship OSE (NNS OSE)
Following the alert issued by the Multinational Maritime Co-ordination Center Zone D message for a search and possible arrest of MV BLU-SHARK with IMO number 8767783.
In a statement, the Director of Information, Nigerian Navy, Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu said that “the vessel was alleged to have escaped from Port Gentil Gabon on 2 May 2024 at about 11:35 pm without obtaining necessary customs clearance documents from the Gabonese maritime, judicial and customs authorities.”
According to him, NNS OSE successfully arrested the vessel at about 1152 hours on 6 May 2024 at Latitude 040 49 929’E, Longitude 008017 602’E, off Calabar waters.
He noted that 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’s Strategic end state towards a safe and secure maritime environment to enhance the Nation’s Blue Economy.
The NN will conduct preliminary investigations to ascertain the veracity of the allegation to handle the vessel in line with the dictates of the Yaoundé Code of Conduct.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla seizes this opportunity to commend the officers and ratings of NNS OSE for their professionalism in apprehending the alleged fleeing vessel.
The CNS also reiterates the Navy’s commitment to collaborating with neighbouring countries to combat transnational maritime crimes in the region.
Source: VON
