Tag: Nigeria

Shell Oil Spill Off Nigeria Likely Worst

The expected reduction in cargo dwell time would automatically reduce the cost of doing business Maritime industry analysts say the proposed 24-hour port operations in Nigeria is a positive development which will free the ports of congestion, reduce cargo dwell- time and demurrage charges to the barest minimum, and increase ports' contribution to gross domestic product (GDP).The analysts contend that the development will enable quick turnaround at ports, stressing that the expected reduction in cargo dwell time would automatically reduce the cost of doing business in Nigerian ports, as importers and their agents would have to pay little or no demurrage charges.Boniface Aniebonam, founder, National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) affirms that the 24- hour port operations, come with some economic benefits to Nigeria, pointing out that there would be huge returns on investment for importers, terminal operators and government.He added that this would create job opportunities for Nigerians, as more hands would be required by different government agencies involved in cargo clearance, to execute the 12-hour shifts needed for the new port operation scheme.For clearing agents and freight forwarders, whose job is to process documents through customs for importers and take delivery of cargo to importer's warehouses, ...

Pirates have kidnapped three people Gunmen stormed a ship supplying a Chevron Corp. offshore oil field, kidnapping three workers in an attack raising concerns over a possible unraveling amnesty deal in the crude-rich nation, authorities said Friday.The attack happened Thursday night near Chevrons massive Agbami oil field, operated by its Nigerian subsidiary about 70 nautical miles offshore from Bayelsa state in Nigerias oil-rich southern delta, officials said. Eight gunmen boarded the MV C-Endeavour, attacking the crew and taking the three sailors hostage, Chevron spokesman Kurt Glaubitz said.A private security official, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity as details about the kidnapping remained closely held, said those abducted were foreigners. Glaubitz declined to identify those kidnapped, citing the San Ramon, Calif.-based companys security rules.The safety of our employees and contractors is our first priority, Glaubitz said. Chevron Nigerian Ltd. is the assisting the service company to ensure the safe release of the kidnapped crew members.Glaubitz said the ship belonged to contractor Edison Chouest Offshore, based in Galliano, Louisiana. The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday.A Nigerian navy spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.Foreign firms have pumped oil out ...

Nigeria and Benin launched joint sea patrols on September The Joint Military Task Force established by Nigeria and Benin to patrol the Gulf of Guinea has arrested eight suspected pirates, officials report. The Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ogbor told Nigeria's Daily Sun that the pirates were arrested off the coast of Benin.Ogbor said that four of the detained pirates were handed over to Benin officials for prosecution while the other four have been handed over to Nigerian authorities."The presence of the Joint Task Force has deterred criminals within the waters and every thing within the area which hitherto had bothered that country has normalized. The good thing about this operation is that its not restricted to Beninois waters and they come out, they patrol up to Nigeria's territorial waters and go back, it does not extend to territories within the Benin Republic, it also extends to Nigeria," Ogbor said.Nigeria and Benin launched joint sea patrols on September 28. Around 100 military personnel from the two countries embarked on three patrol boats and four fast attack craft at the Cotonou's naval base. Operation Prosperity is designed to last six months.The joint patrols "are not aimed primarily ...

The latest attack on a tanker occurred last week 60 miles off Port Harcourt Although the world's focus is on the pirate attacks in the Somali Basin and Gulf of Aden attacks are still being recorded off West Africa, Nigeria in particular. There are significant differences between the two regions; Nigeria is a governed democracy and has one of the largest militaries on the African continent.The latest attack on a tanker occurred last week 60 miles off Port Harcourt where the Nigerian military presence is heaviest. The ship was hijacked and held until reportedly released on the 5 November 2011.Previously the Standard Club has warned of piracy attacks off West Africa and Nigeria in particular and previous advice has been to keep well offshore - over 50 miles has been given as a reasonable distance.However this would now appear to be insufficient and pirates are ranging further offshore and coastwise transiting ships should bear this in mind. Managers and owners should take precautions when trading in these areas and provide ships with appropriate advice and guidance.Source: The Standard P&I Club

Currently, piratesseized an oil tanker with over 20 crew on board off the coast of Nigeria Following the seizure of a Malta flagged vessel by pirates in Nigeria, the International Maritime Organisation, (IMO) has warned vessels owners on the danger of sailing to Nigeria.Confirming the development the influential International Maritime Bureau (IMB) stated, weekend, that gunmen boarded the Malta flagged tanker; MT Halifax as it sat in waters off the coast of Port Harcourt.According to security report, the pirates took over control of the ship and sailed off into the waters of the Gulf of Guinea, and are holding onto the crew as they offload the crude oil in the ship's hold.According to GAC, "communication was reportedly lost with the vessel around 1100 local time on 1 November in an area around 175NM south of Lagos, and 243 NM west of Port Harcourt. The vessel's last reported point of contact is near to where two vessels were boarded in October, one of which was successfully hijacked and held for five days before release."It remains unclear how many crew members were taken or if any have been injured. The Halifax, registered in Malta, is managed by Ancora Investment Trust Inc. of ...

Crude oil theft is an increasing phenomenon in Nigeria The recent upsurge of crude oil theft, also known as illegal oil bunkering in Nigeria has become an issue that now gives the government, oil producing companies and Nigerians as a whole sleepless nights. While economies of countries, where Nigeria's illegally bunkered oil are sold thrive on this cheap and illicit oil, that of Nigeria, biggest oil producer in Africa has continued to dwindle, writes Chika Amanze-NwachukuThe Nigerian constitution provides that all minerals, oil and gas in Nigeria belong to the federal government; therefore the possession of crude oil by an individual or group other than those licensed to lift oil is illegal and punishable under the law. Despite the law in place, theft of Nigeria's crude oil has been a decade-long issue and in recent time, has been on the increase. Top government officials, the military and some highly-placed Nigerians, including top traditional rulers in the oil producing areas had been fingered as some of the culprits, but till date known of these top politicians or individual has been interrogated or brought to book.Not too long ago, a Nigerian magazine reported that a select group of officials in the Nigerian ...

Piracy has escalated in the Gulf of Guinea, prompting the UN to call for increased naval patrols An oil tanker seized by pirates off the coast of the Niger Delta last week has been released, officials in Nigeria say.The vessel - the MT Halifax - was attacked near the oil city of Port Harcourt.The crew of 25, mainly Filipinos, were said to be safe and accounted for.The area has seen an increase in the number of hijackings of tankers as pirates target oil shipments moving out of Nigeria.In most cases the cargo of fuel is taken off before the ship and crew are released unharmed - unlike in Somalia where crews and their ships are held until ransoms are paid, often after several months."The vessel is presently being escorted to Port Harcourt harbour by Nigerian Navy Patrol Team," a spokeswoman for the Nigerian Maritime Administration said."Part of the cargo was siphoned," she said.The Halifax is operated by the Greek-based Ancora Investment Trust Inc and is flagged out of Malta.Piracy surgeAncora lost contact with the tanker on 30 October, according to the International Maritime Bureau (IMB).An official said it was located about 100km (60 miles) off Port Harcourt before it was ...

Supply boat seized in separate Thursday attack Pirates have hijacked an oil products tanker off the coast of Nigeria after contact was lost with the vessel and crew over the weekend, the vessel's manager said on Thursday.An official with Greek-based Ancora Investment Trust Inc said the Halifax tanker was still being held. "They are holding the vessel and crew," the official told Reuters.An oil security source told Reuters separately that pirates had hijacked a small oil supply boat, called MV Igbere, off the coast of Nigeria on Thursday.The incidents were the latest in a lengthening string of attacks on ships in the Gulf of Guinea that experts say threatens an emerging trade hub -- and an increasingly important source of oil, metals and agricultural products like cocoa to world markets.Pirates in the oil-rich Gulf of Guinea, which stretches from Guinea to Angola, tend to raid ships for cash and cargo rather than hijacking the crews for ransom like their counterparts off the coast of Somalia, analysts say."What they are aiming at is the cargo," said the official from Ancora Investment Trust, which manages the tanker.The official said the Halifax had been 60 miles off Nigeria's Port Harcourt before it was ...

Measures introduced by GAC Nigeria Measures introduced by GAC Nigeria to cut its generator use, fuel bills and carbon footprint have met their target two months ahead of schedule.As part of the GAC Group's commitment to reducing the impact of operations on the environment, GAC Nigeria had installed a transformer to connect its head office in Lagos to the national grid. Although only available for part of each day, Nigeria's grid electricity is cheaper than running diesel-powered generators and using it reduces carbon emissions.It was estimated that it would take 13 months to recoup the cost of installing the transformer. However, the resulting savings paid for the capital investment in just 11 months.Over that period, the GAC Lagos office took its power from the national grid for an average of just over 9 hours per day, producing significant monthly savings in diesel consumption.The project was led by Martin Wills, GAC Nigeria's Maintenance Manager, who says: "Despite three months when the grid electricity supply was poor, bringing down the daily average, our initiative has brought very real, measurable results - both for the environment and our budget. We are now looking forward to further savings in 2012."GAC's Managing Director, Neale Proctor, ...