Intercepted vessel destroyed in Delta had 150,000 MTs of crude worth $86.8m
More details emerged yesterday on the intrigues behind the interception and destruction of the 800,000-tonne capacity vessel bearing stolen crude oil.
The vessel, MT TURA II (IMO number: 6620462), was apprehended in the wee hours of last Friday by operatives of a private security firm, Tantita Security Services, after a weeklong surveillance of its movements.
According to Tantita Security Services, the vessel was laden with 150,000 metric tonnes of stolen crude oil.
As at yesterday, 150,000 metric tonnes of stolen crude oil was valued at $86,860,500.00
The vessel was conveying its cargo from Nigeria to Cameroon when it was intercepted at a location offshore Ondo State, with 11 Nigerians and one Ghanaian on board.
Following its interception, it was anchored at the Oporoza-Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South West Local Government Area (LGA) of Delta State.
The Nation gathered that the vessel had been caught twice with stolen crude in the past 12 years and handed over to the Navy, but it resurfaced again under a disguised name.
But it was set ablaze yesterday at exactly 1:09 pm, at a creek close to Bennett Island in Warri South West, despite another alleged intervention to have it handed over to the Navy.
Tantita’s Executive Director on Technical Operations, Captain Warredi Enisuoh, said the burning was executed by a team of the military, law enforcement agents, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and Delta State government officials.
Tantita Security Services is owned by former Niger Delta warlord, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo.
Tompolo’s firm is under contract with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), for, among others, oil pipeline surveillance.
According to the NNPCL, MT TURA II is owned by a Nigeria Registered Company, Holab Maritime Services Limited with Registration Number RC813311.
The vessel’s original name was Ali-Riza-Bey, but it was altered to MT Tura 11 to evade security agents’ surveillance.
The NNPCL had explained in a statement on Monday that the vessel was secretly being serially used for stealing crude and its destruction was a means of deterrent.
The oil giant’s Chief Communications Officer, Garba Deen Muhammad, said preliminary investigations revealed that the crude oil cargo onboard was illegally sourced from a well jacket offshore Ondo State, Nigeria.
He said there was no valid documentation for the vessel or its crude oil cargo at the time of the arrest.
“Further investigation into the activities of the vessel at the NNPC Ltd Command and Control Centre also revealed that the vessel has been operating in stealth mode for the last 12 years. The last reported location of the vessel was Tin Can Port in July 2011.
“Details of this arrest and the outcomes of the investigations were escalated to the appropriate government authorities, upon which it was concluded to destroy the vessel to serve as a strong warning and deterrent to all those participating in such illegal activities to cease and desist.
“Destroying vessels involved in transporting stolen crude oil is of paramount importance as a strong deterrent,” Muhammad said.
Nevertheless, the decision to destroy the vessel raised eyebrows. Many also queried the NNPCL’s non-disclosure of the persons apprehended on the vessel, raising suspicion that a high-level syndicate may have been involved.
But an insider source from NNPCL insisted that the vessel was destroyed because, among others, it was not a first-time offender.
The source confirmed that the Navy personnel at the crime scene insisted that the vessel be handed over to them, but that knowing the vessel’s history of returning to crime, this was rebuffed.
The source could, however, not confirm the quantity of crude on the vessel at the time of its arrest.
The NNPCL, the source explained, did not measure the quantity of crude oil aboard the vessel, but noted that it might not necessarily be at full capacity.
The source said since the quantity was not certain, a definite monetary figure could not be put on the cargo.
On the identities of those apprehended aboard the vessel, he explained that since NNPCL had no power to detain culprits, it handed the suspects over to security operatives.
He said NNPCL was no longer in a position to know the suspects’ whereabouts, adding that he was not authorised to disclose more than what was contained in the Monday press statement.
Explaining why the vessel was destroyed, the source said NNPCL was afraid that the vessel could be released after some underhand deals if it was again handed to the authorities.
Thus, both the oil giant and the Nigerian Army resolved to condemn the vessel on the spot.
The source added: “This particular vessel is known for stealing. So, that is what happened. I cannot divulge information more than what is in that statement.
“This particular vessel had been caught twice, not necessarily by NNPC and then, they were handed over to the Navy. You can see that it resurfaced again. It shows there is a higher syndicate.
“That is exactly what has been happening. Why they were insisting yesterday that that ship be destroyed was because as they (NNPCL contractors) caught the suspects, I heard that the Navy showed up again.
“They (Navy) said they should hand over that ship, but even other military men disagreed; NNPC insisted that that ship must be destroyed.
“So, even as of yesterday (Monday), they had not destroyed it. They (the Navy) were saying they would take it far away where they would destroy it, but NNPCL said no.
“NNPCL said they (the culprits) were stubborn. Thus, they (NNPCL) had to remain behind and ensure that the ship was destroyed.”
He explained that although the vessel had an “800,000 litres capacity vessel, it didn’t carry 800,000 litres crude. Crude is not measured in litres. It (the cargo) hasn’t been measured.”
He explained further that the NNPCL private security contractor only tracked the vessel for switching off its Automatic Infraction System (AIS).
According to him, the signal from the NNPCL Control Centre indicated that the vessel switched off its AIS. He added that it was a crime for vessels to switch off their AIS.
The source said: “We will catch them and hand them over to whoever is needed to be handed over to because it is the work of the Federal Government. Whatever the government does after is not our business.”
Asked to disclose the names of the arrested suspects, he said: “I was not given the names of the culprits because it is an industry-wise security operation. They have been handed over to the Nigerian security forces.
“Anything that happens with crude oil, Nigeria Army is involved. Navy is involved.”
Tantita’s Executive Director on Technical Operations, Captain Enisuoh, applauded the “swift decision” to destroy the vessel.
“The whole idea of destroying the vessel is to send a strong message to all would-be investors that this is what they are to face if they tow this type of business”, he said.
Enisuoh stressed that illegal operators and their sponsors should be ready to lose their assets as the government and security forces would go to all lengths to bring them to book.
He noted that the hierarchy of the Army, Navy, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NNPCL, as well as officials of the Delta State Government were on the ground during the burning of the vessel.
The National Operations Controller, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), also backed the destruction of the vessel.
“It is good that the vessel has been destroyed. If not, you will be surprised that surreptitiously, it will be released because we don’t know who is behind it or who owns it. So, strings may be pulled and then the vessel would be said to have disappeared,” Osatuyi said.
He said it was regrettable that it took a private security outfit to make such a humongous arrest, despite the existence of the Nigerian.
He added: “It’s an indictment on the Navy as far as I am concerned
