Security agencies have started beaming their searchlight on Nigerian flagged ships following the continued arrests of such vessels, especially within the Lagos and Port Harcourt maritime zones by the Joint Task Force (JTF).
Security sources told our correspondent last week in Lagos and Port Harcourt that government is indeed worried by the number of Nigerian ships that are being arrested by the JTF and the rate at which the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) is uncovering illegal jetties and arresting indigenous ships.
Security agencies have started beaming their searchlight on Nigerian flagged ships following the continued arrests of such vessels, especially within the Lagos and Port Harcourt maritime zones by the Joint Task Force (JTF).
Security sources told our correspondent last week in Lagos and Port Harcourt that government is indeed worried by the number of Nigerian ships that are being arrested by the JTF and the rate at which the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) is uncovering illegal jetties and arresting indigenous ships.
In Port Harcourt, our correspondent confirmed that the JTF has arrested many ships that are involved in illegal activities and destroyed many illegal refineries from where illegal petroleum products are shipped either out of the country or to places like Lagos.
One source attached to the JTF confirmed that there is a directive to the Navy and other relevant apparatuses to beam searchlight on Nigerian ships.
Investigations by Shipping Position Daily reveal that many of the illegal jetties that have been uncovered in Lagos are haven for clandestine activities of Nigerian ships and boats.
When the DPR raided one of such jetties in Marina Lagos last week, three oil tankers, namely: MTA Amolese, Cape European and Rock Barge were seized , while a barge that was simply identified as BC6215 was also found there.
Prior to last week, the department had also made a similar discovery of another illegal jetty at the Kirikiri area of Apapa, Lagos where petroleum products are allegedly discharged illegally.
Four barges; MV Priye, MV Kome, MV Soa, Fuadl, all containing diesel were also discovered at the jetty.
The latest of the arrests was the one involving MV Princess Nnenna for involvement in illegal bunkering. It was arrested by the JTF last week at Manson creek, off Brass Island in Bayelsa state.
Sources hinted our correspondent last week that security agents have uncovered two levels of theft; there is the one involving the use of illegal jetties to freight refined petroleum products and there is the one involving outright theft of crude oil.
“In all of these, a strong link between Nigerian-flag ships and the oil thieves have been established, we have nabbed some indigenous operators, oil marketers and crew, but because we are still investigating them, we cannot go to town with the details”, our source disclosed.
However, another source added that three agencies, including the JTF, the Navy, the DPR and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) are currently working together to unearth more details about Nigerian ships that are being used as feeder ships for illegal transportation of either refined products or crude oil.
However, Shipping Position Daily could not confirm the number of Nigerian flag ships that have so far being arrested in both Lagos and Port Harcourt maritime zones.
But, when contacted for reactions, the general secretary, Indigenous Ship owners Association of Nigeria (ISAN), Capt Niyi Labinjo told our correspondent that the association has constantly being warning its members not to be involved in illegal operations, he added that however that ISAN is not afraid of any investigations into activities of Nigerian ships.
“I need to state it again that it is not all ship owners that are members of ISAN, some ship owners for their own reasons are not members of our association”, he said even as he stressed that the association has zero tolerance for anyone who does anything untoward.
Capt Labinjo however disclosed to our correspondent that there had been instances when ISAN member were, arrested, invited or have their ships seized based on allegations bordering on illegal bunkering, but added that such persons have always been released when such allegations are found to be false.
“Our frequent warnings once saved one of our members who was arrested by Interpol and the EFCC, but after thorough investigations, he was released, he told our correspondent last week.
Shipping Position Daily recalls that a Nigerian flag vessel; MT Madina was also recently detained in Ghana while attempting to discharge allegedly stolen crude oil at the Saltpond Offshore facilities
The owners of the vessel who reportedly alerted security operatives along the west coasts reported that MT Madina was supposed to transfer oil from a small field in Nigeria into a larger ship, identified as the MT North Wind Grace, but the captain and crew instead decided to steal the cargo.
Our source hinted also that the ‘red flag’ on Nigerian ships will also extend to owners of petroleum products reception facilities, popularly called tank farms.
“Preliminary investigations have revealed that some ship owners are either tank farm owners or have a discrete business relationship with owners if such facilities”, the source hinted.
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