The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has clarified that the Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) SKIPPER, recently intercepted by the United States Coast Guard and U.S. Navy for alleged crude oil theft and transnational crimes, is not a Nigerian-flagged vessel.
According to NIMASA, the vessel’s purported owners, Thomarose Global Ventures Limited, are also not registered with the Agency as a shipping company.
NIMASA’s monitoring system shows that the vessel was last sighted in Nigerian waters on July 1, 2024, before departing and continuing its international voyage pattern in the Arabian Sea and later the Caribbean region, where it was intercepted. The vessel has a history of name changes, having been previously owned by Triton Navigation Corp.
NIMASA’s Director General, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, has reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to collaborating with relevant stakeholders, including U.S. authorities, in the ongoing investigations.
He emphasised that criminality will not be tolerated in Nigerian waters, assuring that the Agency will continue to work towards ensuring the safety and security of the maritime domain.