The Nigerian Navy (NN) has unveiled the second 76meter High Endurance (HE) Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) built in DEARSAN Shipyard, Turkey.
The Director of Naval Information, Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, in a statement on Friday, said the First Lady; Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, launched the vessel in Turkey on Friday.
Adams-Aliu recalled that the first OPV built by DEARSAN Shipyard was launched on Oct. 26, 2023 and was graced by the Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Matawalle, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Adm. Emmanuel Ogalla, Charge D’Affair Nigerian Embassy Turkey, Amb. Zayyad Habu-Abdulsalam and other dignitaries.
He said the launch of the 76meter HE – OPV marked a significant milestone in Nigeria’s commitment to safeguarding her territorial waters and combating maritime threats.
The statement also quoted Ogalla as saying that the construction of the two OPVs commenced in 2022 at the DEARSAN Shipyard, Turkey.
He said the milestones on the vessel construction had been met and appreciated the management of DEARSAN Shipyard for their efforts.
He said the general specification of the OPV are 76.90m length Width – 11.90m; 3.60m draught, 28knots speed, propulsion System – Combined Diesel and Diesel (CODAD), 2500nm range, 16 days endurance and 47 crew capacity.
According to him, the construction of the vessel will boost NN fleet renewal efforts for fulfilment of her constitutional mandate.
“It will ensure maximum presence at sea to curb illicit acts such as oil theft, piracy, sea robbery, illegal fishery as well as smuggling of Small Arms and Light Weapons among other crimes in the vast 84,000sqnm of Nigeria’s maritime environment.
“It will also facilitate harnessing the enormous potentials within Nigeria’s maritime domain in support of FG’s Blue Economy initiatives,” he said.
The CNS expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for his support towards ensuring the completion of the construction of the OPVs and his commitment to NN fleet renewal aspirations.
He also lauded the First Lady for accepting the invitation to perform the age-long naval tradition of launching a ship into water for the first time, a role often reserved for female leaders.
