The Nigerian Navy (NN) has intercepted a vessel that allegedly fled from Gabon without proper documentation.

The vessel, MV BLU-SHARK, was intercepted in Calabar on May 6 at about 11:52 a.m. by the navy’s NNS OSE, a statement by the Navy’s Director of Information, Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, said on Friday in Abuja.

According to him, 11 crew members were arrested.

Mr Adams-Aliu explained that the vessel was intercepted on May 2 following an alert message from the Multinational Maritime Co-ordination Centre Zone D requesting the search and possible arrest of the vessel with IMO number 8767783.

He said the vessel allegedly escaped from Port Gentil Gabon on May 2 at about 11:35 p.m. without obtaining customs clearance documents from the Gabonese maritime, judicial and customs authorities.

He added, “The arrest of MV BLU-SHARK is part of existing collaborative efforts between regional maritime security agencies in the Gulf of Guinea under the Yaoundé Code of Conduct on Maritime Security in the Region.”

Mr Adams-Aliu said the arrest was also in line with Nigeria’s strategy for a safe and secure maritime environment to enhance the nation’s blue economy.

He said the navy would conduct preliminary investigations to ascertain the veracity of the allegation and handle the vessel in accordance with the dictates of the Yaoundé Code of Conduct.

According to him, Chief of Naval Staff Emmanuel Ogalla has commended the officers and ratings of NNS OSE for their professionalism in apprehending the alleged fleeing vessel.

He reiterated the navy’s commitment to collaborating with neighbouring countries to combat transnational maritime crimes in the region. 

(NAN)