Piracy/Oil Theft: Navy Acquires 2 New French Built OCEA 72 Patrol Boats.

The Nigerian Navy said on Thursday that the force was in the process of taking delivery of 2 new French built OCEA FPB 72 patrol boats to boost maritime security.

A statement by Captain Suleiman Dahun, Acting Director, Naval Information said, “The vessels, Gongola (P189) and Calabar (P190) are expected to arrive on 24 January 2018.

“This delivery will bring to 6 the number of the patrol boats so far acquired by the Navy while 2 additional OCEA boats are being expected to join the NN fleet later in the year”.

“The FPB 72s are 24 metres long and 5.8 metres wide. They can reach a speed of up to 35 knots and have a range of 600 miles at 12 knots. Crew is ten”.

Continuing Dahun said, “The vessels are equipped with a rigid-hulled inflatable boat on the aft deck.

“They are used to combat maritime crime, oil theft and militant groups that have staged disruptive attacks on oil platforms and pipeline infrastructure.”

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