In a bid to improve security in Africa’s maritime domain and protect critical infrastructure at sea, the Nigerian Navy and its regional counterparts held a joint sea exercise with those of Europe, South America and the United States from the Gulf of Eden through the Mediterranean to the Gulf of Guinea region. PRECIOUS IGBONWELUNDU, who witnessed the exercise reports
A Europe-bound motor tanker, MT CENTENARY, marked 883671710 and laden with 250,000 barrels of crude oil was sailing through Nigeria’s Eastern waters on Sunday, March 20, when an eight-man pirate gang hijacked it.
The hijackers who suppressed the vessel’s 11-man crew comprising two Philippinos, five Ghanaians and four Nigerians, navigated the ship between Opobo and Ikot-Abasi waters in Uyo, in a bid to siphon its contents.
Fortunately, the ship’s Captain, Das Macfish, with the aid of his private Thuraya phone, radioed the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) OKPABANA, informing the warship of its predicament, stating that the pirates were in charge of the command and control of the oil vessel. Immediately the captain contacted the navy ship, the Commanding Officer (CO) NNS OKPABANA, Captain Olusegun Ferreira, ordered the Special Boat Services (SBS) elements to prepare for a rescue mission.
As that was going on, the ship’s Executive Officer (XO), Captain Abdulraman Mohammed, tried to cajole the pirates to disembark and not hurt the crew members of the merchant vessel, but the hijackers threatened fire and brimstones. Hence, the SBS teams, after receiving directives from the CO, were lowered into the water, while the navy continued to buy time by massaging the ego of the pirates’ leader, a certain Don, who remained adamant.
As the talks between the XO and Don continued, the two boats conveying 16 SBS elements navigating against ocean tides, headed towards the distressed vessel, while Nigerian Navy Augusta Helicopter 09, which flew for about 30 minutes from Naval Flying Unit, Ikot-Abasi at a thousand feet above sea level after it was contacted, landing onboard the warship at about 10:30am to provide air surveillance for the boarding party, covered them.
Upon sighting the military men, the pirates opened fire, injuring one of the officers identified as Douglas. However, one of the pirates was killed as the operatives forcibly claimed the vessel in a bid to save the crew members and protect the nation’s territorial integrity. Having successfully boarded the vessel and rounded up the remaining seven members of the gang, the SBS team recovered eight AK47 rifles and 16 magazines with 200 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition. The naval team then interrogated the occupants of the oil vessel.
In the course of interrogation, it was discovered that the oil tanker itself was operating illegally, having forged documents with which it lifted crude oil. At that point, the rescue team arrested the vessel and handed both its crew members and the pirates to the Eastern Naval Command (ENC) for appropriate actions.
Another motor tanker, MT ORJIDO, carrying 24,000 barrels of crude oil purportedly from Apapa Port in Lagos was sighted transiting illegally within Brass waters. The tanker with International Maritime Organisation (IMO) number 963566, hoisting Nigeria’s flag, had an 11-man crew comprising three Indians, three Ghanaians and five Nigerians.
Suspecting its questionable transition, operatives of NNS OKPABANA radioed the vessel and its Ghanaian Captain, identified as Juth, claimed they were heading to Lome in Togo.
Not satisfied with the oil tanker’s claim, the navy notified the merchant ship of its intention to board the vessel and search it, a directive that was obeyed without hesitation.
The above scenarios, which played out in the Nigerian waters during Exercise Obangame/Saharan Express 2016, highlight the actions taken by the navy when a suspect vessel refuses to comply with law enforcement procedures and what it does when there is compliance and cooperation.
With 26 participating nations from across the world, this year’s exercise was conducted with scheduled and specific pre-planned scenarios initiated by the Exercise Control Group (ECG), while suspect vessels were tracked through RMAC, Falcon Eye and other maritime capability gadgets.
Aside boosting the capacity of individual navies that participated, it provided an opportunity for partner nations to work together, share information and refine tactics, techniques and procedures to assist the Gulf of Guinea (GoG) and West African maritime nations in building capacity to monitor and enforce their territorial waters and EEZ.
Each member nation in the region had specific exercises geared towards tackling the prevalent maritime challenges in their domain. For Nigeria, the focus was on anti-crude oil theft and anti-hijacking simulations. The scenarios brought to fore the shortcomings NNS OKPABANA experienced, especially last February in the course of rescuing MT MAXIMUS, an oil tanker hijacked by pirates off the coast of Cote D’Ivoire.
An annual combined Central and West African exercise in the Gulf of Guinea focused on increasing regional cooperation and interoperability to enhance maritime safety and security, this year’s Obangame/Saharan Express featured tactical manoeuvring, vessel boarding search and seizure (VBSS), search and rescue, all depicting the day-to-day challenges maritime forces face as well as the efforts made to improve safety and security of regional waters.
Conducted in multiple locations from the Gulf of Eden through the Mediterranean to the Gulf of Guinea, the exercise evaluated combined operations to counter illicit maritime activities by using interregional, regional and national whole-ofgovernment approach.
It focused on using existing arrangements; agreements to share resources such as assets, intelligence and information; identify potential deficiencies and create new concepts; utilise integrated ROE matrix and develop regional Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Critical Information Requirements (CIRs) and deliberate Pre-planned Responses (PPRs).
According to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshal Gabriel Olonishakin, the Nigerian Navy’s participation in the exercise was a demonstration of professional competence. Represented by Air Vice Marshal Sahfiy Kudu, the CDS expressed confidence that the collaboration among regional maritime stakeholders will curb issues of piracy in the GoG.
The objective of the exercise, according to the Officer in Tactical Command (OTC) Commodore Deji Sunmola, was to exercise and assess the capacity to conduct maritime operation within existing frameworks, as well as the operational capability to conduct Maritime Interdictions and Law Enforcement Operations.
He noted that Nigeria has recorded enormous gains since its first participation in 2010 because the operational capability of NN personnel has been further strengthened.
He said: “The exercise has provided a forum to exercise ships and aircraft and enable our officers and men to train with other navies of the world. The confidence of our personnel has improved.
“Security of the seas is important and impacts us all. The ability to govern the sea helps counter problems such as trafficking of people and illegal material, oil bunkering, drug trade, illegal fishing and piracy.
“Obangame/Sahara Express provides excellent opportunity for participants to work as part of Global Network of Navies to enhance maritime security in this vital region of the world. Exercises conducted this year included counter-piracy, energy security, anti illegal fishing, counter illicit trafficking, search and rescue as well as advanced medical training. It included a wide variety for all participating forces such as at-sea ship boarding and queries, air operations, communication drills and regional information sharing.
“The Nigerian Navy brought three capital ships, a helicopter and a maritime patrol aircraft for this exercise. Training as regards seamanship was brought to bear. Apart from the men onboard the ship, our SBS brought to bear the training it has gained over the years. Also, personnel have ensured sea line of communication remained open in the GoG.
“As a regional player, the Nigerian Navy has come of age. The successful participation of our platforms was an indication that we are equal to the task and always ready to consolidate on the gains made.”
Life onboard NNS OKPABANA
At exactly 2:05pm on March 16, NNS OKPABANA commenced the voyage through the Atlantic Ocean from Onne Ports in Rivers State. Cabins were allocated, beddings issued and safety/ship rules read out to all civilians at the point of boarding by the XO.
Sailing at a speed of six knots, the vessel gradually moved into dark waters where the ship spent seven of the 11 days, occasionally patrolling between BRASS, BONNY and OPOBO general areas.
It was an intriguing experience, particularly at sunrise, watching the sun beam its rays across the ocean as it takes over from the moon. At 5:30 am, the beagle echoes from the bridge (ship’s control room) across every nook and cranny of the 115.4m long and 12.8m beam vessel, signaling the dawn of a new day. The next general announcement comes 15 minutes later telling everyone that fresh water would be pumped, which means aside bathing, everyone on board was expected to reserve the water they would need for the rest of the day.
With a navigational draught and height of 7.9m and 38.6m respectively; speed of 29knots, nine decks, two anchors and nine shackles on the port and starboard, machine guns and a displacement of 3250, NNS OKPABANA has full capacity to effectively carry out its policing duties for 45 days in the high sea without coming ashore.
But for the absence of telephone and Internet signals, as well as the restriction of movements onboard the floating iron for safety reasons, every activity onboard the ship was in line with military tradition.
There is a well equipped gym at the base of the vessel, a laundry room, a barbing salon at the ship’s basement while table tennis, table soccer, chess, scrabble and other games are played at the helicopter hanger or the officers’ wardroom.
Breakfast is served between 6:30 am and 8 am, lunch from 12:30pm to 2 pm and super time starts at 6 pm ending 8pm. The ship company has a roaster indicating what role each personnel must play at a particular time. Seven watches are kept each day by different people as the ship sails to avoid any security threat.
At 8pm, the beagle announces the commencement of First Watch and those whose turn it is dress in their blue rigs, take positions at strategic areas in the ship where they stay till midnight, reporting every movement and object sighted. Then those on Middle Watch take over from 12 am to 4 am after which the people on Morning Watch continue till 8 am.
From 8 am to 12 pm, personnel on Forenoon Watch hold sway, handing over to those on Afternoon Watch who take charge till 4 pm. However, from 4 pm to 8 pm, the watches are kept two hourly to ensure rotation and avoid a situation whereby the same set of people will keep same watches on a daily basis.
Senior officers onboard NNS OKPABANA include incoming Fleet Commander, ENC, Commodore Rasaq Babalola; ENC’s Chief Operations Officer (COO), Commodore Adebayo Ayinde; Naval Headquarters’ (NHQ) observer Captain Richard Shammah; exercise’ information coordinator, Sulaiman Dahun.
Aside the Obangame exercise, NNS OKPABANA had in-ship trainings on fire fighting, emergency evacuation (abandoning ship), man overboard and steering breakdown. The Marine Engineer Officer (MEO) Commander Joshua Daelung, while taking civilians on board for a tour, said the drills were routine and usually carried out whether alongside or at sea.
He said: “We usually have drills and exercises whether at sea or alongside, so if there is a real life situation, we can tackle it. Although what you are seeing is simulated smoke, it tells the fire fighters and investigators what to expect in real situation.
“First, a team of investigators go to find out the cause of fire. If the situation is within their control, they tackle it, but if it is beyond them, they will radio and the entire ship company becomes involved
“Bridge, engine room and prepare lockers are the three compartments of the ship. They then share the three compartments and try to put out the fire. Meanwhile, the medicals are on ground to treat anyone injured.
“If they still cannot solve the problem, then, preparations to abandon ship will commence, and all onboard will muster to the emergency station according to their life raft numbers, where the Commanding Officer will address everyone and give the directive to abandon ship.”
Thrilled by the expertise exhibited by the navy on the high sea, a Nigerian Customs officer, Samuel Agholor, expressed confidence in its ability to effectively safeguard the nation’s waters.
He said: “This exercise has exposed me to the capabilities of the NN and their ability to efficiently rescue hijacked vessels. I have also witnessed the proficiency of the SBS and I have no doubt that the marine unit of the Nigerian Customs will henceforth, communicate with the navy whenever we hear of similar distress. Before now, we have only been contacting the marine police because we patrol inland waters.
“Despite being secluded from the rest of the world, I was able to get along socially and made many friends on the ship. It was a wonderful experience.”
A lawyer from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), who was on board the ship, said the experience had afforded him a better insight as to the resources, both human and material, expended to arrest a criminal vessel.
“The navy usually hands over vessels involved in oil theft to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). We prosecute these vessels and suspected culprits. This exercise has further solidified the existing relationship between both agencies and it has exposed me to the rigours the Nigerian Navy go through to protect our resources and territorial integrity in the waters,” he said.
A Deputy Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Danjuma Dadi, described the experience as an eye opener, appreciating the efforts being made by the navy to secure the nation’s waterways.
On the evening of the seventh day, other observers from the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigerian Customs, EFCC and NSCDC, were disembarked from NNS OKPABANA with the use of a ladder into NNS CENTENARY’s small boat to return home, while NNS OKPABANA navigated through Bakassi, catching a glimpse of Mount Cameroon, the Limber seas and finally anchoring at the Douala Port for the closing ceremony.
