Nigerian Navy received Friday in Lagos a new patrol vessel built in China as part of efforts to tackle security challenges in the country's waters and the gulf of guinea.
The first of two P-18N Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) ordered by Nigeria was delivered in November 2014 at the China Shipbuilding and Offshore International Company (CSOC)'s Wuchang Shipyard in Wuhan, China.
The second vessel is expected to arrive in Nigeria later part of the year and substantial part of it is finishing and fitting work will be done in Nigeria.
Receiving the vessel on behalf of the navy, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin said the addition of the vessel would boost the navy's war against maritime crimes.
He said Chinese security cooperation with Nigeria has increased over the years, especially with the building of a warship for Nigeria at the Chinese Ship building company.
In his remarks, Liu Kan, the Consul General of the Chinese Consulate-General in Lagos, said China will continue to value the good relations with Nigeria.
The envoy expressed optimism that the cooperation between both countries would continue to be on a win-win basis.
Nigeria, Africa's largest oil producer, has seen an increase in piracy in the Gulf of Guinea in recent years.
Top military officers, diplomats, family and friends attended the ceremony.
P18N Offshore Patrol Vessels have a displacement of 1,700 tons, a length of 95m, width of 12.2m and beam of 3.5m.
It is powered by two MTU 20V 4000M diesel engines. The maximum speed is 21 knots. The endurance of the vessel is 20 days at sea (range 3000 nautical miles at 14 knots) for a crew of 70 sailors.
P18N main missions will include coastal and offshore patrol, protecting the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), carrying out search and rescues, preventing marine pollution and anti-piracy.
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