Nigeria and Switzerland has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the release of a Swiss flagged merchant vessel, MT SAN PADRE PIO.
The Swiss Merchant Tanker was arrested by Nigerian Navy Ship SAGBAMA on Tuesday 23 January 2018 at Odudu Oil Terminal for operating in Nigeria’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) without proof of payment of the requisite three per cent import, sea protection and offshore oil reception facilities levies.
It was therefore deemed to be operating illegally and promptly arrested.
SAN PADRE PIO (IMO: 9610339) is a Oil/Chemical Tanker that was built in 2012 and has a carrying capacity is 7616 t DWT. Her current draught is reported to be 6.8 meters. Her length overall (LOA) is 112.7 meters and her width is 17.6 meters.
But in what could be described “as a great diplomatic feat,” Director of Naval Information, Commodore Suleiman Dahun said in a statement that representatives of the Governments of Nigeria and Switzerland signed the MOU for the release of the Merchant Tanker “at the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Conference Room, Federal Ministry of Justice, Abuja on Thursday, 20 May 2021.”
According to the statement, “the amicable resolution and subsequent signing of the MoU came as a result of the diplomatic efforts and intervention of the 2 governments. The vessel MT SAN PADRE PIO was arrested by the Nigerian Navy Ship SAGBAMA on Tuesday 23 January 2018 at Odudu Oil Terminal for operating in Nigeria’s Exclusive Economic Zone without proof of payment of the requisite 3 per cent import, sea protection and offshore oil reception facilities levies.
“Consequently, the vessel and crew were handed over to the EFCC for prosecution which led to litigation at both the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, Hamburg, Germany and the Federal High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court of Nigeria respectively.
“The signing of the MoU was undertaken by the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice on behalf of Nigeria, while the Swiss Ambassador to Nigeria signed on behalf of the Swiss Government.
“In attendance at the signing ceremony were the representatives of the Nigerian Navy, Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the EFCC.”