The Nigerian Navy deployed seven ships and two helicopters on Thursday to provide effective maritime search and rescue services in Nigerian waters.

The deployment included other facilities and a patrol vessel of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency.

The flag officer commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, Mustapha Hassan, flagged off the operation code-named ‘Exercise Swift Response’ onboard the Nigerian Navy Ship, KADA.

Mr Hassan said the exercise aimed to provide effective maritime search and rescue services and reduce the loss of lives and property.

“This exercise involves the deployment of suitable naval assets equipped for maritime disaster management operations. The exercise is aimed at contributing to the safety of lives at sea in Nigeria’s maritime environment and the Gulf of Guinea by providing prompt and timely response to maritime accidents,” he said.

According to him, it will also serve as an opportunity to evaluate the command’s disaster management capabilities and add value to the chief of naval staff’s aspiration for improved operational readiness of the navy.

Mr Hassan said the exercise would involve training personnel in the new tactic of triangulating and prosecuting rogue vessels at sea.

“The exercise will afford ships in the western fleet the opportunity to reevaluate their information sharing capabilities through effective communication and also test their capabilities for carrying out rescue missions at sea.

“It will also equally assess the capabilities of the Nigerian Navy in surveillance and special air operations, among others,” the FOC said.

(NAN)