The patrol team operatives of Nigerian Navy Ship BEECROFT under the Command of Commodore Kolawole Olumide Oguntuga have arrested Motor Tanker SAISNIL II for alleged crude oil theft.
Oguntuga, who is also the Maritime Component Commander Operation AWATSE, arrested the vessel, flying St. Vincent & Grenadines flag and its 11 crew onboard.
Speaking with newsmen onboard the vessel, the Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral MB Hassan, noted that the vessel was observed to have turned off its Automatic Identification System (AIS), which is a grievous infraction within the nation’s maritime domain, stating that activities of vessel would not be determined when such systems are turned off and such occasions are when illegalities are perpetrated.
He further hinted that the infraction necessitated the deployment of Nigerian Navy Ship SOKOTO, which sailed 199 nautical miles to intercept and returned the vessel to Lagos Anchorage.
According to the Flag Officer, SAISNIL II initially sailed from Lagos Anchorage on November 23, 2023 to Taraba Jetty in Port Harcourt, Rivers State to evacuate about 720,000 Liters of Crude Oil Sludge but the manipulation of its AIS around ABO Field for over 48 hours gave rise to a reasonable suspicion of illegalities.
He added that samples of the product onboard has been taken for analysis at the appropriate laboratory and the outcome of the analysis will determine the next line of action.
He further noted that the vessel is opened to any agency that wants to get samples onboard for analysis to confirm the product onboard.
According to him, this became necessary as the Nigerian Navy remains resolute in ensuring transparency towards ensuring holistic maritime security.
The successful detection leveraging technology and arrest of MT SAISNIL II despite the distance from the coast aligns with key priorities of the Strategic Directives of Vice Admiral EI Ogalla, Chief of the Naval Staff, emphasizing navy’s unwavering commitment to eradicating crude oil theft within the nations maritime environment for economic prosperity of the nation.