Tag: Nigeria

Tthe attack happened off the coast of Port Harcourt Private security sources tell The Associated Press that pirates have seized an oil tanker off the coast of Nigeria's oil-rich southern delta and kidnapped the foreign crew.The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the seizure with journalists, said the attack happened off the coast of Port Harcourt.An unknown number of foreign crew members remained held Thursday as the pirates offloaded the tanker's oil cargo. The tanker was identified as the MT Halifax, a ship flagged out of Malta. The Associated Press could not immediately reach the ship's owner Thursday.Analysts say the area has seen a growing trend of oil tanker hijackings as pirates target legal and illegal oil shipments moving out of Nigeria.Source: AP

To curb the activities of sea pirates in the continental coastal water Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Ola Ibrahim has said that African Navies needed to cooperate to curb the activities of sea pirates in the continental coastal water.The Naval chief said in Johannesburg yesterday that the activities of the pirates at the African coastal lines would drive investors away if not curbed.Ibrahim, who was a Guest Speaker at the just-concluded African Navy Maritime Security Conference in South Africa, said that the potentials in the continental seas needed to be fully protected."The main issue discussed at the conference is how African Navy can cooperate, so cooperation was preached on many grounds. The conferences also afford the opportunity for us to know that whatever happens in any parts of Africa affect other nations."So it is very clear that without cooperation we can achieved very little success in tackling the activities of pirates that is now a threat in the continent territorial waters."Ibrahim said the experience and cooperation between West Africa Navy in provision of security in the sub-region was shared with the delegates."I also have to tell the audience how Nigeria Navy on the request of the Benin Republic President, ...

The ship was loaded with 1,000 barrels, valued at around $100,000 Nigeria's military said on Monday they had detained a small oil tanker and arrested 46 people trying to ship illegally refined oil products, pursuing a fight against an underground industry worth hundred of millions of dollars a year.Nigeria is Africa's largest crude oil exporter but its production capacity is reduced significantly by oil bunkering, where thieves tap often unguarded pipelines which pass through the thousands of kilometres of winding creeks and waterways in the vast Niger Delta region.The military said 13 large wooden Cotonou boats and a speed boat were ferrying barrels of oil product to a ship with the capacity to hold around 1,000 barrels, valued at around $100,000. The oil had been processed in one of the hundreds of makeshift illegal refineries hidden in the creeks."These suspects, who were nabbed by our patrol teams at River Akassa, were in the process of loading this vessel with illegally refined petroleum products. Presently, the oil vessel is detained at the Government Jetty in Yenagoa," said a spokesman for the Niger Delta joint task force."These suspects have contributed in no small measure to the destruction of the nation's economy and ...

In a bid to curtail the activities of sea piracy and robbery in Nigeria In a bid to curtail the activities of sea piracy and robbery in Nigeria waterways, a bill to domesticate international laws, guidelines, and conventions on the matter is underway in the National Assembly.The global maritime watchdog, International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has several treaties, guidelines, and conventions to tackle the menace of sea piracy, robbery in the waterways and sundry matters.However, such treaties, guidelines, and conventions cannot be applied in member countries until they are domesticated.Nigeria is presently in Category C, in the Governing Council of IMO, and she would be seeking for a re-election into the prestigious body during its General Assembly at its Headquarters in London, United Kingdom, next month.To ensure that the bill does not encounter any hitch at the National Assembly, a Lagos base lawyer, Mr. Mike Igbokwe (SAN), has been given a mandate to ensure that the bill has all the provisions to enable Nigeria successfully prosecute waterways robbers and sea pirates.Igbokwe, who dropped the hint in Lagos in a chat with reporters, said as the consultant to the government for the preparation of the bill, its successful passage into law in ...

Attacks have dropped significantly over the last month The joint anti-piracy patrols undertaken by Benin and Nigeria are bearing fruit, as attacks have dropped significantly over the last month, according to Benin's Chief of Defence Staff."Currently there is an ongoing naval operation in our seas, so as to deter pirates from operating in our territorial waters. I think this has so far been successful, as there has been no more attacks, apart from some minor incidents here and there," said Benin's Chief of Defence Staff Boni Mathew.Mathew said the joint operation with Nigeria had also succeeded in ensuring safety along the borders of both countries and had helped curb such crimes and weapons smuggling.Operation Fire for Fire was designed to stop smuggling and piracy off the coasts of both nations. Armed speedboats are patrolling the waters off Benin and Nigeria, but AFP reports that the joint patrols were also to include a radar-equipped ship with a helicopter.The joint anti-piracy patrols will last six months, by which time Benin should be able to monitor its own waters.In August Benin's President Boni Yayi called for a regional summit on the issue of piracy. At the meeting in early August, Nigeria's President Goodluck ...

No clues for the identity of the attackers or the reason for their action Gunmen attacked a ship supplying an Exxon Mobil oil platform off the Nigerian coast, the company said on Tuesday, less than three weeks after someone was kidnapped from a vessel at one of its facilities in the same waters.Kidnappings are relatively common in the onshore oil-producing Niger Delta but since an amnesty was agreed with militants in 2009 and the military have cracked down on gangs in the creeks, more attacks have spread offshore."Mobil Producing Nigeria, operator of the joint venture with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, confirms that in the early hours of Monday October 17, 2011, some armed men attacked a third party vessel near our facilities, offshore Akwa Ibom State," a company statement said on Tuesday."At this time, we do not know the identity of the attackers, nor reason for their action. The incident has been reported to security and relevant government agencies."The company did not say if anyone had been kidnapped or what happened to the vessel.A sailor was kidnapped from a ship supplying an Exxon oil platform in the same region on Sep. 30. There has been no update on his ...

Chemical tanker seized and the crew kidnapped 90 miles off the Nigerian coast he Standard Club has warned of piracy attacks off West Africa and Nigeria in particular. Previous advice has been to keep well offshore - over 50 miles has been given as a reasonable distance. This would now appear to be insufficient and pirates are ranging further offshore.The latest piracy episode reported on 11 October was of a Marshall Islands chemical tanker seized and the crew kidnapped 90 miles off the Nigerian coast. Only last month an oil tanker was seized and crew kidnapped off the coast of Benin. Previous club advice has been that masters and companies should take anti-piracy precautions as appropriate. The latest version of the Best Management Practice (ver4) or BMP4 is a good guideline to base these anti precautions on.Companies should also consider using secure communications with port authorities and agents when trading in these areas as the pirates also listen to unsecure ship communications.Source: The Standard P&I Club

Only about 60 of 600 vessels in the upstream sector of the oil and gas industry are owned Only about 60 of 600 vessels in the upstream sector of the oil and gas industry are owned by indigenous operators.General Secretary of the Indigenous Shipowners Association of Nigeria (ISAN), Captain Niyi Labinjo, who told The Nation in Lagos, that out of this 60 vessels, only about six of them are currently doing business in the offshore sector.The ISAN scribe lamented that the rest are anchored at the nation's waters without jobs.Labinjo disclosed each vessel participating in the offshore operations collect at least $5,000 per day, which, according to him, is the least amount collected by foreign vessels doing business in the nation's waters.He said with the situation, the country is losing about N2 trillion annually as capital flight."We have plenty of hydrocarbons. As at today, it is 37 billion barrels but our government is working towards making it 40 billion. That is our proven reserve. We are said to be the 10th-world producer of oil. The world as a whole everyday uses 84 million barrels per day of oil and Nigeria produces 2.5 million barrels every day. For gas, we have ...

The two countries are dedicating planes and ships to the effort The Republic of Benin has issued a statement detailing plans of a joint effort with Nigeria to curb the growing trend of piracy in its waters and to help retain confidence in the Port of Cotonou.The two countries are dedicating planes and ships to the effort and are appealing to all seafarers to remain calm and composed in the face of any manoeuvres that might occur as a result of these measures.The full statement (translated into English) can be read here.Source: INTERTANKO

Joint naval patrols in an effort to combat the threat of pirates Nigeria and its West African neighbour, Benin, have begun joint naval patrols in an effort to combat the threat of pirates.The Gulf of Guinea has this year seen a marked increase in the number of attacks in its waters.Last month, a group of London-based insurers rated part of its coast in the same high-risk category as Somalia.The International Maritime Bureau says there have so far been 19 attacks off Benin's coast this year.According to the bureau, which monitors such attacks, none were recorded off the same coast in 2010.Emmanual Ogbor, head of Nigeria's western naval command, says that the reason for the increase is clear.He says tough action from his ships has forced the pirates into areas where they can operate freely.The joint patrols will initially last for six months and involve six Nigerian ships and helicopters with the Beninois initially contributing two vessels.Although the joint operation is being dressed up an equal partnership, this is all about Nigeria helping out its neighbour to the west.A spokesman from Benin's navy said the attacks had scared ships away and deeply affected the country's economy.Source: BBC News