…says Vessel Has Been Operating For 12 Years
By Udesinanna Stephen
The Nigeria National Petroleum Company, NNPC Limited has said it intercepted an 8000 litre Vessel with “illegally” sourced crude oil.
The Company revealed this in a statement signed by the Chief Corporate Communications, Garba Deen Muhammad and obtained from its verified Twitter handle @nnpclimited.
This is coming following an intelligent report by a Private Security Contractor engaged by NNPC Ltd., Messrs. Tantita Security Services who intercepted the Vessel. The Chief Corporate Communications officer reports.
According to him, the crude oil cargo onboard was illegally sourced from a well jacket offshore in Ondo State, Nigeria with no valid documentation for the Vessel or the Crude Oil Cargo at the time of the arrest.
He said, “Further investigation into the activities of the vessel at the NNPC Limited Command and Control Centre revealed that the Vessel has been operating in stealth mode for the last twelve (12) years. The last reported location of the Vessel was Tin Can Port in July 2011.
“The Vessel, MT TURA II (IMO number: 6620462), owned by a Nigerian Registered Company, HOLAB MARITIME SERVICES LIMITED with Registration Number RC813311, was heading to Cameroun with the Cargo on board when it was apprehended at an offshore location (Latitude: 5.8197194477543235°, Longitude: 4.789002723991871°), with the Captain and Crew members on board.”
Mohammad said the situation has been reported to the appropriate authorities, upon which it was concluded to destroy the Vessel to warn others involve in the corrupt act.
“The illegal trade of stolen crude oil not only inflicts significant economic losses on Nigeria and legitimate stakeholders in the oil industry, but also perpetuates a cycle of corruption, environmental devastation, and social instability.
“NNPC Ltd. assures Nigerians that we will sustain the momentum in the war against crude oil theft until it is brought to a halt.” He added.
