The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has clarified that the Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) MV Skipper, recently intercepted by the United States Navy on allegations of crude oil theft and transnational crimes, has no registration or ownership ties to Nigeria.
In a statement released by the agency's Head of Public Relations, Edward Osagie, NIMASA stated that the vessel, bearing IMO Number 9304667, does not feature in its registry of ships.
Additionally, the purported owner, Thomarose Global Ventures Limited, is not recognised as a licensed shipping company under NIMASA's oversight.
The agency said its attention was drawn to media reports suggesting the vessel was Nigerian-owned or flagged, prompting the need for clarification.
Data from NIMASA's Command, Control, Communication, Computers, and Intelligence (C4i) Centre indicates that the MV Skipper was last sighted in Nigerian waters on July 1, 2024.
After departing Nigeria, the vessel proceeded along its regular international routes, operating in the Arabian Sea before moving to the Caribbean region, where it was intercepted by US authorities.
NIMASA further noted that the ship, previously owned by Triton Navigation Corp, has changed names multiple times throughout its operational history.
The clarification comes amid reports of the vessel's seizure over suspected involvement in illicit crude oil activities.
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