By CHARLES IWUOHA

The Management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has cleared the air on ship seized by United States coast Guard for alleged crude oil theft.

It spoke on Friday – days after the US 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, in its reaction, declared 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.”

It stated that 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,” NIMASA said in a statement signed by its Deputy Director/Head, Public Relations, Osagie Edward.

The statement noted that the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, has 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.