Maritime Security: Controversy Trails Amaechi’s Quest for Another $22.9M Despite Uncompleted $195M Contract to Israeli Firm

Eromosele Abiodun

In a move that has raised eyebrows in government circles, and among stakeholders, Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi is seeking a whopping $22.99 million from the federal government to hire fast intervention vessels to tackle insecurity in Nigerian waters, THISDAY has learnt. This comes hard on the heels of the $195 million maritime security contract approved for the same purpose by the federal government in 2017, which was also pushed through by Amaechi.

A source familiar with the matter said, “That contract is yet to be fully executed.”
The federal government had in 2017 approved a $195 million maritime security contract with an Israeli firm, HLS International Limited, under the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure, also called the Deep Blue Project. The company allegedly got the contract on the strength of its relationship with Amaechi, even though stakeholders alleged lack of transparency.

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Source: thisdaylive.com

Maritime security: EU to the rescue of ECOWAS civil and maritime professionals

By Moctar FICOU

The European Union (EU) has awarded a grant of 1.5 million euros, or one (1) billion CFA francs, to the Institute for Interregional Maritime Safety (ISMI), the Regional Academy of Marine Science and Technology (ARSTM), to finance 16 training cycles between 2021 and 2024.

This initiative aims to strengthen the maritime security skills of civil and maritime professionals in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The training, which will begin in January 2021, will put an end to illegal activities in the Gulf of Guinea.

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Source: vivafrik.com

MarsecNews: This item was translated into English by Bing. As a result, some errors may occur.

Navy destroys illegal refineries in South-south

Musa Umar Bologi

Personnel of the Nigerian Navy (NN) destroyed scores of illegal refineries Tangolo Susu, Oputumbi and Promise Land, Edeoha Community, and Oghara in Bonny and Edeoha Local Government Areas of Rivers state and Ethiope West of Delta state.

Coordinator Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. John Enenche disclosed this during a press briefing at the Defence Headquarters Abuja on the activities of the military across the country. He said the troops also arrested one suspected gunrunner with one AK 47 rifle and 2 magazines loaded with 7.62mm special ammunition around Road Elele-Owerri in Rivers State.

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Source: blueprint.ng

Vessel thought attacked turns up safe and sound in GoG

Dryad Global has confirmed that the Ship Security Alert System (SSAS) activated on the Panamanian flagged M/T Errina ‘appears to have been in error’ and the vessel has subsequently been shown to be at a location South of Lagos.

Indications were that the vessel position was 200nm West Sao Tome. According to Dryad Global, this position would have been irregular to her known trading pattern.

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Source: bunkerspot.com

MarsecNews: This article updates a story we ran on Oct. 23rd which can be found here. Happy to see the situation resolved.

MDAT-GoG issues attack alert

After two initial alerts overnight, MDAT-GoG has updated its latest report to the following:

1. CATEGORY: ATTACK IN PROGRESS

2. TIME: 23 Oct 2020 0730UTC.

3. DESCRIPTION: MDAT-GOG has received an SSAS alert from a MV which may be under attack in this position 043812N 0032818E. Local authorities are aware of this situation. Please be advised this is the last confirmed position of this vessel and is several hours late.

4. POSITION: 043812N – 0032818E.

There was clear concern when no update was received from the vessel, which Dryad Global believe is the tanker, MT Errina, which led some media outlets to speculate that it had been hijacked. However, this remains unconfirmed and we await an update from MDAT-GoG on the vessel and crew’s status. The new position was confirmed by the vessel’s AIS, according to MDAT-GoG.

Pirates Cart Away 16 Fishermen’s Boats In Andoni

By: Chinedu Wosu

Rampaging armed sea pirates terrorising fishermen in Andoni communities in Rivers State have carted away 16 engine boats belonging to fishermen in the area. The sea robbers who have been terrorising waterways in the communities also attacked the helpless fishermen and made away with their valuables.

The attacks happened at the weekend, with no arrest made by the Marine Police or the Navy.
The attacks created fears among the fishermen from Oyorokoto community, making some of them desert the river for safety.

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Source: thetidenewsonline.com

Do not switch off the AIS in Nigerian waters

Despite the elevated piracy risk in the Gulf of Guinea, ships operating in the region should maintain their automatic identification systems (AIS) in operation at all times.

ALERT

16 OCT 2020

On 5 October 2020, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) issued a notice warning its clients and other stakeholders that the Nigerian Navy will investigate, and has arrested, ships that switch off their automatic identification system (AIS) when operating in Nigerian waters. It further reminds masters of their obligations under SOLAS Reg.V/19 to maintain their AIS in operation at all times, when underway or at anchor. The NNPC notice can be viewed here.

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Source: gard.no

Two GoG incidents reported over weekend

Media reports state that a vessel believed to be the LNG carrier, Methane Princess, was attacked by pirates on Saturday 17th October, off Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. Sources suggest that two crew were initially kidnapped, with one managing to escape from the pirates before they fled the area.

On Sunday Oct. 18th, MDAT-GoG issued an alert that pirates had boarded a merchant vessel off Lome, Gulf of Guinea, in position 040858N-0012400E at 1100 UTC. They later updated to report that all crew were reported as safe and that the vessel was being escorted to Lome by Togolese Navy assets. Dryad Global has identified the vessel as the PTI Nile.

Troops impound stolen products, destroy illegal refining sites in South-South

The Defence Headquarters says the troops of Operation Delta Safe have impounded a large quantity of stolen petroleum products and destroyed many illegal refining sites in the South-South zone in the last one week.

The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, stated this while giving the weekly update on the activities of the military across theatres of operation on Thursday in Abuja.

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Source: guardian.ng

Maritime security: Navy chief promises stronger synergy with foreign navies

Musa Umar Bologi

Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas has assured that the Nigerian Navy will continue to maintain existing relationships with its partners and work on the same trajectory towards sustaining the gains recorded in securing the Gulf of Guinea.

He said this while playing host to the Italian Ambassador to Nigeria, Stefano Pontesilli at the Naval Headquarters Abuja.

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Source: blueprint.ng