The Nigerian Navy (NN), said that its Ship, code-named NNS Dorina, has tracked and rescued a drifting Cameroonian Flagged Motor Fishing Vessel AFKI (MFV AFKI), within Nigeria’s Exclusive Economic Zone.
According to a signed statement by the Director of Information, Commodore AO Ayo-Vaughan, made available to Channel Network Afrique, CNA, the Navy (NN), received distress information requesting assistance for the rescue of a Cameroonian – Flagged Motor Fishing Vessel AFKI (MFV AFKI) with registration number UK12 and IMO number AFKI 8432780.
Ayo-Vaughan, said, the fishing vessel reportedly had drifted off her course for four weeks.
He noted that according to a ‘Note Verbale,’ issued by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Director of Information, said, the incident occurred on 24 October 2023 when MFV AFKI was en route from Bangul in the Gambia to the Congo Kinshasa for delivery of the vessel.
“While in transit, the vessel suffered depleted fuel to her propulsion engines which resulted in her drifting off the coast of Sao Tome and Principe into Nigeria’s Exclusive Economic Zone. Unfortunately, all efforts by the vessel owners to trace its location for possible rescue proved abortive. However, further surveillance revealed that the last known location of the vessel was about 72 nautical miles from the Nigerian coast”. he said
“Consequently, the NN swiftly deployed Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) DORINA
the Maritime Domain Awareness facilities for Search and Rescue Operation (SAR). Accordingly, on 17 November 2023 at about 2000 hours, after frantic surveillance by the deployed NN platform, NNS DORINA traced and made contact with the vessel 17 nautical miles off Pennington terminal,” the statement explained.
The Naval Spokesperson who also disclosed that upon rescuing the vessel, two foreign crew members were confirmed onboard added that due diligence was made by NNS DORINA Boarding Party to ascertain the status of the vessel and her involvement in any untoward activities.
He said, “It was however discovered that the vessel had no incriminating items onboard. Thereafter, NNS DORINA towed MFV AFKI with the assistance of NNS IKENNE to Escravos, Delta State where NN Forward Operating Base ESCRAVOS took custody of the Fishing Vessel for further administrative procedures in preparation to hand over the vessel to the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. MFV AFKI had thus been adrift for almost One month before the NN rescued her”.
The NN also uses this opportunity to once again reassure seafarers and indeed other maritime operators of its commitment to collaborate with local and strategic partners and allies to ensure the safety and security of vessels as well as crew members who carry out legitimate businesses in or transit Nigerian maritime environment.
The statement added that the deployment of NN platforms in the Search and Rescue of the Cameroonian registered fishing vessel, MFV AFKI is in line with the NN’s statutory role for the Safety of Life at Sea, SAR and also in line with the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla’s Command Philosophy.