The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) counters alleged ownership of the contentious vessel identified as MV Skipper by Nigeria, insisting that owners of the vessel are not registered with the agency
By Patrick Ogboru
The apex maritime parastatal, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), has denied Nigeria’s ownership of a contentious supertanker, the MV Skipper which was arrested recently by the United States Coast Guard in collaboration with the US Navy. The 20-year-old Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) with International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) number 9304667 according to reports by a section of the media, was owned and managed by Nigerian-based Thomarose Global Ventures Limited.
The report added that MV Skipper’s seizure was carried out under the American Law Enforcement Authority, with President Donald Trump announcing the operation. Furthermore, the said media report indicated that beyond the suspicion that the VLCC might have carried stolen crude oil, it was also being investigated for allegedly transporting a large consignment of hard drugs, as well as operating within a network backed by suspected Iranian and other Islamist-linked money laundering financiers.
But in a swift reaction, NIMASA has debunked Nigeria’s ownership of the vessel. The agency stated that Thomarose Global Ventures Limited, are not registered with NIMASA as a shipping company.
In a statement issued by the image maker of NIMASA, Eric Osagie, the agency said, “The attention of the management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has been drawn to media reports stating that the United States Coast Guard, in collaboration with the U.S. Navy, intercepted a Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) SKIPPER with IMO Number 9304667, alleged to be Nigerian-owned and involved in crude oil theft and other transnational crimes.
“NIMASA wishes to put on record that the VLCC SKIPPER is not a Nigerian-flagged vessel, and its purported owners, Thomarose Global Ventures Limited, are not registered with NIMASA as a shipping company.
An analysis of the vessel’s movement, monitored through the Agency’s Command, Control, Communication, Computers and Intelligence (C4i) Centre, shows that the vessel was last sighted in Nigerian waters on 1st July 2024.
“After departing Nigerian waters, the vessel continued on its international voyage pattern and was tracked operating in the Arabian Sea (Asia) and later in the Caribbean region, where the U.S. interdiction eventually took place.
“Records indicate that SKIPPER which was formerly owned by Triton Navigation Corp, has undergone multiple name changes over time.
“The Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to collaborate with all relevant stakeholders, including U.S. authorities, in the ongoing investigations. He emphasized that criminality will not be tolerated in Nigerian waters”.
In the meantime, NIMASA has held a high-level bilateral meeting with the Tanzania Shipping Agencies Cooperation (TASAC) aimed at strengthening regional collaboration and supporting the growth of Africa’s maritime sector. The meeting which was held on the side lines of the IMO General Assembly, also included the endorsement of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Mobereola, and the Alternate Permanent Representative of Tanzania’s Mission to the IMO, Dr. Devotha Edward Mandanda.
The MoU reaffirms the commitment of both nations to advancing maritime surveillance, developing seafarer capacity, strengthening cabotage administration, and expanding the use of digital information systems. It also outlines continuous knowledge sharing initiatives aimed at boosting operational effectiveness.
Both sides emphasized that the MoU marks the start of a new phase in regional maritime collaboration. They expressed confidence that the partnership will enhance maritime governance, improve operational capacity, and support the development of strong and resilient maritime institutions that contribute to sustainable growth across Africa.
Also at the meeting was the NIMASA Governing Board Chairman, Hon. Yusuf Hamisu Abubakar, Executive Directors, and Nigeria’s Alternate Permanent Representative to the IMO, William Bwala.
