The Nigerian Navy has taken delivery of a state-of-the-art offshore survey vessel, OSV 115, designed and built by OCEA SA, a French shipbuilding company.

It is a 35-metre-long vessel built for scientific hydrographic and oceanographic missions and equipped with progressive technology, including medium- or shallow-water multi-beam echo sounders and other essential survey equipment.

The vessel, delivered at Apapa, Lagos, is primed to conduct in-depth surveys in shallow and medium waters.

It was delivered with comprehensive support services, including training, spare parts, tooling, and necessary documentation, ensuring seamless integration and operation within the Nigerian Navy’s fleet.

Director of Naval Information, Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, stated on Saturday in Abuja that the latest addition to the Nigerian Navy fleet would operate in tandem with the OSV 190 “NNS LANA’’.

NNS LANA was also built and delivered by OCEA in 2021.

“The primary role of the new vessel is to conduct hydrographic and oceanographic surveys, supporting ongoing efforts to safeguard Nigeria’s territorial waters and optimise the current administration’s Blue Economy initiatives.

“The Nigerian Navy began local production of internationally recognised nautical charts in 2019, and the newly acquired OSV will further improve its hydrographic charting proficiency,’’ Mr Adams-Aliu stated.

(NAN)