Claims about Nigeria’s involvement with the MV Skipper, a Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) intercepted by U.S. forces for alleged crude oil theft and other transnational offenses, have been dismissed by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA). The agency stated that the ship is not registered under the Nigerian flag, is not required to sail as a Nigerian ship, and that Nigeria had no role in the tanker’s activities.
The explanation of the MV Skipper Incident.
The 20-year-old tanker with IMO Number 9304667 was not registered in the official Nigerian ship registry, according to preliminary checks by NIMASA. Its supposed owners, Lagos-based Thomarose Global Ventures Ltd., are not registered with the agency as a shipping firm. The tanker was caught in international waters flying the flag of Guiana without permission, a common tactic to evade sanctions or hide a vessel’s identity.
The U.S. Coast Guard and Navy announced that the Skipper had engaged in crude oil theft, piracy, and smuggling to Iran and Venezuela in violation of U.S. sanctions. The tanker was sanctioned by the U.S. OFAC in 2022. NIMASA C4i Centre tracking records show the ship was last seen in Nigerian waters on 1 July 2024 before moving to international routes via the Arabian Sea and the Caribbean, where it was finally captured.
The tanker, formerly owned by Triton Navigation Corp. of the Marshall Islands, has changed ownership and names several times. The Maritime Administration Department of Guyana stated that the Skipper was not registered under the Guyanese flag, confirming that its use of the flag at the time of interception was unlawful.
The Director General of NIMASA, Dr Dayo Mobereola, emphasised the agency’s full cooperation with international authorities, including U.S. investigators. He stated that no criminal acts will be allowed in Nigerian maritime waters, highlighting Nigeria’s strict control over its shipping industry and commitment to maritime security standards.ll have a catchy headline, meta description and tags to use in a global news outlet. Do you want me to do that next?
