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Arrest was mistake

The arrest of the "ST Vanessa" by the Nigerian Navy on charges of theft of oil, based on a mistake. Nigeria has now apologized and released ship and crew.

St Vanessa contained no oil, says Nigerias Naval chief

The seized St. Vanessa earlier claimed to be carrying 8.5 million barrels of stolen crude oil has no crude on board, it emerged yesterday. The Defence Headquarters (DHq) has rolled out new directives for owners of boats and barges operating in the Niger Delta. The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Ola Ibrahim, who appeared yesterday at the House Joint Committee investigating the upsurge in illegal bunkering, debunked reports on the seized ship. Chairman of the Committee Muraina Ajibola said the seized ship contained 8.5million barrels of crude oil. The Committee subsequently constituted a sub-committee to find out the veracity of that claim. In addition, the Navy was directed to hand over the ship to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for safekeeping. http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/news/52081-mt-vanessa-contained-no-oil-says-naval-chief.html

St Vanessa suspect in illegal bunkering. Nigerian Navy suspect in illegal arrest.

Belgian tanker St Vanessa was arrested by Nigerian Navy on June 19 at about 1520 LT for alleged illegal bunkering off the Brass/Akassa coast in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa. After completing cargo operations vessel departed Lome, Togo, on June 5, and sailed to Akassa/Brass area. Between June 5 and 18 tanker was said to be drifting some 100 miles off Akassa during daytime and approaching Akassa/Brass area some 10 miles off the coast during nighttime. Nigerian Navy highlighted tanker as suspect in illegal bunkering and kept a close watch on her erratic movements. “On June 19, 2012, at about 1520, NNS ZARIA intercepted the vessel and interrogated her”, said Nigerian Navy command. Tanker tried to escape, but was stopped after three hours of pursuit, and taken to Bonny anchorage for investigation. on June 26 Nigerian authorities paraded 15 crew (six Romanians and nine Filipino) before the journalists. Owner of the vessel couldn’t explain why the vessel was sailing around without any specific task or need. Comment: There are two questions, which need answers. Nigerian Authorities were monitoring tanker for two weeks and didn’t stop the vessel when she was entering Nigerian territorial waters during nighttime. Why didn’t the Navy warn the tanker and order to leave Nigerian waters for good in the beginning of the story? Definitely, Navy was trying to catch the vessel in the act of illegal bunkering, but it didn’t happen. Let’s assume tanker was after illegal bunkering –Nigerian Navy then, didn’t stop suspicious activities before they took place, and actually, was provoking crime to happen. But nothing happened, and most probably, tanker was trying to leave, or maybe Navy lost patience, whatever, the question arises – where exactly did Navy intercept St Vanessa, in territorial waters or in international waters? Navy said during daytime vessel was drifting or moving around some 100 miles off Nigerian coast, it may be assumed then, that the tanker was intercepted, chased and arrested in international waters. How can it be, is it legal? Nigerian Authorities fight illegal bunkering – that’s their problem, if they catch foreign vessels in the act of illegal activity, it’s ok, but when they provoke crime to happen, and arrest foreign vessel in international waters, it’s a different matter demanding independent investigation and maybe, protest against such law enforcement activities of Nigerian Authorities. Voytenko Mikhail Maritime Bulletin http://www.odin.tc