MV SKIPPER not Nigerian-Flagged, owners unknown to NIMASA
…Agency clarifies vessel’s status amid U.S. interdiction
The Management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has noted media reports claiming that the United States Coast Guard, in collaboration with the U.S. Navy, intercepted a Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC), MV SKIPPER (IMO 9304667), alleged to be Nigerian-owned and involved in crude oil theft and other transnational crimes.
NIMASA categorically states that MV SKIPPER is not a Nigerian-flagged vessel. The entity purported to own the ship, Thomarose Global Ventures Limited, is not registered with the Agency as a shipping company.
Data from the Agency’s Command, Control, Communication, Computers and Intelligence (C4i) Centre shows that the vessel was last observed in Nigerian waters on 1 July 2024. After departing, the ship continued its international trading pattern, operating first in the Arabian Sea and later in the Caribbean region, where U.S. authorities eventually interdicted it.
Records further reveal that SKIPPER, formerly owned by Triton Navigation Corp, has undergone multiple name changes over the years.
NIMASA Director General, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, reiterated the Agency’s commitment to working closely with all relevant stakeholders, including U.S. authorities, as investigations progress. He stressed that criminal activities will not be tolerated in Nigerian waters.
