DE HAAS INTERCEPTORS DELIVERED TO NIMASA
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has received more DHM1050 interceptor boats from De Haas MAASLUIS in the Netherlands for its Deep Blue maritime security project.
NIMASA Director General/CEO, Bashir Jamoh, on February 27 tweeted photos of the interceptors being unloaded, saying “from Onne to Lagos, we are counting down to deployment day. Our fast-moving interceptor boats will be crucial for interdiction purposes.”
The DHM1050 boats are 10.45 meter long and fitted with triple 300 hp Yamaha outboard motors, giving a top speed of nearly 60 knots and a payload of 2 000 kg. They are fitted with ten passenger seats in front of the pilot’s station.
Last week Jamoh said; “We are deploying high-tech assets under the Deep Blue Project to not only deal with piracy and armed robbery in our territorial waters frontally but also respond to the increasing sophistication of these maritime crimes.
“The Nigerian Navy and NIMASA are partnering to ensure a high level of security in our waters. We are tying up all loose ends and very soon everything would become manifest and clear to stakeholders and operators,” he stated.
PROFORCE is supplying armored personnel carriers to NIMASA, which will use them to strengthen security on the Niger Delta through land patrols. It is not clear what model of vehicle PROFORCE is delivering for the Deep Blue project.
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The Government is acquiring these assets under its Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure (Deep Blue) Project, which aims to combat issues such as illegal fishing, terrorism, oil theft, illegal immigration, smuggling and piracy in Nigeria’s exclusive economic zone and the Gulf of Guinea. Most assets were to be delivered by mid-2020.
Israeli company, Blue Octagon, is sourcing much of the hardware for Deep Blue, which also includes a command, control, computer communication, and information (C4I) centre, which began 24 hour operations in August 2019 at the NIMASA base in Kirikiri, Lagos State.
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Henry Chidozie
Maritime / Crime Analyst
PFSO, CSO (UK Maritime & Coast Guide Certified)
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