Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the First Lady of Nigeria, has inaugurated the second 76-meter High Endurance (HE) Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) at DEARSAN Shipyard in Turkey.
The event, which occurred on Friday, April 19, 2024, marks a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to strengthen its maritime security capabilities.
According to Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, spokesperson for the Navy, the new vessel will play a crucial role in enhancing the Nigerian Navy’s fleet and its ability to fulfill its constitutional mandate of safeguarding the nation’s territorial waters. The Navy expects the OPV to bolster its presence at sea and combat various illicit activities, including oil theft, piracy, illegal fishing, and smuggling of small arms and light weapons.
In addition to enhancing security, the Navy believes that the new vessel will support the Federal Government’s Blue Economy initiatives by tapping into the vast potential of Nigeria’s maritime domain.
The launch ceremony was attended by dignitaries including Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, Chief of the Naval Staff, and Ambassador Zayyad Habu Abdulsalam, among others. Vice Adm. Ogalla expressed satisfaction with the progress of the OPV construction, noting that the project commenced in 2022 and represents a significant step towards enhancing Nigeria’s maritime security infrastructure.
He commended DEARSAN Shipyard for their efforts in completing the construction of the OPVs and expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support in achieving the Navy’s fleet renewal aspirations. Vice Adm. Ogalla also extended his gratitude to Senator Oluremi Tinubu for her participation in the launch ceremony, highlighting the significance of her role as a female leader in the age-old naval tradition of ship launching.
The newly launched OPV boasts impressive specifications, including a length of 76.90 meters, a width of 11.90 meters, and a speed of 28 knots. With its combined diesel and diesel propulsion system, the vessel has a range of 2500 nautical miles and an endurance of 16 days. It is designed to accommodate a crew of 47 personnel, further enhancing the Nigerian Navy’s operational capabilities in safeguarding the nation’s maritime interests
 Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) at DEARSAN Shipyard in Turkey.){kind=link}