Anti-Piracy: NIMASA Refurbishes Intervention Vessels

Abiola Seun |

As shipowners, importers and clearing agents operating at the nation’s seaports await the deployment of the Nigeria’s maritime security initiative also known as the deep blue project against sea crimes and piracy on the nation’s territorial water, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has refurbished its abandoned gun boats

In a tweet yesterday, the Director-General of NIMASA, Dr Bashir Jamoh disclosed that his administration has rehabilitated the agency’s existing fast intervention vessels which were down and in a dilapidated condition when he was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari on March 10, 2020.

According to him, when the platforms are eventually deployed for anti-piracy activities, it would save the nation huge rental cost on the current six fast intervention vessels.

In the tweet, the NIMASA DG said the vessels would soon start operation even as he said that the agency tends to acquire additional platforms for security of the nation’s coastal and territorial waters.

The tweet reads, “#ProgressReport. We are reviving our vessels for enforcement purposes. When we came in, our boats & outgoing platforms were down; immediately sent them for drydocking at the naval dockyard. They will soon be fully back in service; saving us huge rental costs. Plan to acquire more,” he said