Private Firm Acquires Anti-Piracy Boat In Niger Delta     

A private security firm has acquired an anti-piracy boat for its operations in the Niger Delta.

The firm; Homeland Integrated Offshore Services last week ordered a Damen patrol vessel, adding to its fleet of existing boats.

Shipping Position Daily confirmed last week that Homeland Integrated Offshore Services signed the contract with Damen Shipyards Group for another Damen 3307 Patrol Vessel, bringing the number ordered to six since the first was delivered in 2014.

Damen on 7 June said the vessel, named Guardian 6, will join its sister vessels in the Gulf of Guinea providing security services to oil majors operating in the region. It will perform roles such as deterring and intervening in piracy attacks

 Homeland said it is approved and registered by the Government of Nigeria to provide private maritime security services. Additionally, it will carry out crew transfers and equipment deliveries.

Shipping Position Daily learnt that Homeland was founded in 2006 to support international oil companies working in Nigeria’s offshore oil and gas fields. It now operates a sizeable fleet that includes fast supply intervention vessels, platform support vessels, anchor handling tug supply ships, security and patrol vessels, and tugs.

The latest acquisition comes weeks after the Minister of Justice; Abubakar Malami declared as illegal activities of armed guards on Nigeria waters.

 Speaking at the signing ceremony, Homeland’s CEO Dr Louis Ekere said, “I’d like to thank Damen for the continued cooperation, which goes beyond the simple client-supplier relationship. We have a genuine collaboration that involves knowledge and technology sharing to the benefit of all parties. The synergy has continued to grow the capacity of Nigerian indigenous companies in line with the objectives of the Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board (NCDMD) of the Federal Government to grow the local content capacity and many people benefit from employment opportunities, both during the build and in the operation of this vessel.”

Also speaking, Damen Regional Director Africa Mr Harm Blaauw said, “Homeland is a very important client of Damen in Nigeria, with a very well organised management structure. We would like to express our sincere gratitude towards Homeland for the pleasant relationship over the past few years and we are looking forward to working together on a further expansion of the Homeland fleet and presence in the Nigerian maritime sector.”