The Nigerian Navy has intercepted and handed over a tanker vessel “MT Sea Eunice” to the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA). This follows the allegation that the vessel flouted International Maritime Organisation (IMO) regulation.

The vessel was arrested on August 11, 2022.

The vessel is presently located along Escravos River, close to the Aroton community.

The Base Operation Officer of the Nigerian Navy Ship, Delta (NNS, DELTA), and Commander Samuel Musa noted that the vessel was constantly switching off her Automatic Identification System (AIS), which is a violation of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) regulation that NIMASA implements in Nigeria.

Responding to this development, the NIMASA DG, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, OFR lauded the Nigerian Navy for always being proactive in its operations and noted that NIMASA is committed to inter-agency collaboration with the Nigerian Navy.

“Let me use this opportunity to state that NIMASA and the Nigerian Navy are partners in progress, because without synergy we cannot realise our mandates. We will continue to work closely with the Nigerian Navy to strengthen the existing ties to ensure we keep our maritime environment safe and secured,” the DG stated.

Engr. Joshua Oyadiran, the District Surveyor, Central Zone, NIMASA, who received the vessel on behalf of the Agency, assured that investigations would be carried out in line with the mandate of the Agency.

•PHOTO:Base operation officer of the Nigerian Navy Ship, Delta (NNS, DELTA) Commander Samuel Musa handing over MT Sea Eunice to the District Surveyor, Central Zone of NIMASA, Engr. Joshua Oyadiran in Warri, Delta State.