The Nigerian Navy deployed seven ships and two helicopters on Thursday to provide effective maritime search and rescue services in the country’s waters.
Rear Adm. Mustapha Hassan, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) of the Western Naval Command, flagged off the operation code-named ‘Exercise Swift Response” aboard the Nigerian Navy Ship, KADA.
The deployment also included other facilities and a patrol vessel from the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
Hassan clarified that the exercise aims to reduce loss of lives and properties by offering efficient maritime search and rescue services.
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He added that the initiative will intends to provides an opportunity to evaluate the command’s disaster management capabilities and contributes to the Chief of Naval Staff’s goal of enhancing operational readiness for the Nigerian Navy.
Furthermore, he explained that the exercise involves training personnel in the new tactic of triangulating and prosecuting rogue vessels at sea.
He said:
“This exercise involves the deployment of suitable naval assets, equipped for maritime disaster management operations.
“The exercise is aimed at contributing to the safety of lives at sea in Nigeria’s maritime environment and the Gulf of Guinea by providing prompt and timely response to maritime accidents.
“The exercise will afford ships in the western fleet the opportunity to reevaluate their information sharing capabilities through effective communication and also test their capabilities for carrying out rescue missions at sea.
“It will also equally assess the capabilities of the Nigerian Navy in surveillance and special air operations, among others.”
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