Harnessing Capacity for Hydrographic Surveys at Sea

Over the years, the capacity of the Nigerian Navy to conduct hydrographic survey that would assure safety of naval and merchant traffic at sea was significantly hampered by the absence of a hydrographic ship in its fleet. To address this gap, Chiemelie Ezeobi reports that the newly acquired hydrographic vessel, NNS LANA, a first ever purpose-built Offshore Survey Vessel, is geared to provide and improve reliable hydrographic data and information as a critical component in the projection of naval power for enhanced maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea

Any force is only as good as its military equipment and for the Nigerian Navy (NN), its platforms. This is because in protecting the domestic and even external territorial integrity, aggressive fleet recapitalisation strategy must be enabled. Firm believers of this ideology, the NN recently boosted its fleet by taking delivery of its first ever purpose-built Offshore Survey Vessel, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) LANA, from Saint Nazaire, France.

However, beyond its role in the recapitalisation process, the new vessel is unique in the sense that it will boost hydrographic survey in the nation’s maritime domain. After its launch in France, the vessel began its journey home and was received at the jetty of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT last month, just in time before the now cancelled NN anniversary week.

Maritime Illegalities

Although 70 per cent of Nigeria’s economic growth lies on the waterways, the maritime domain is often fraught with the challenges of maritime illegalities ranging from piracy, sea robbery, smuggling, illegal fishing to brazen crude oil theft, proliferation of illegal refinery, destruction of critical infrastructure for oil and gas, reckless violent crimes such as kidnapping, hijack and attack on security forces and many more others.

To tackle this, the Nigerian Navy has had to patrol the endless miles of waterways despite some major challenges like shortage of Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV), budget constraints, inadequate local ship building capacity for constructing naval vessels and inadequate surveillance.

The challenge is even pronounced given that the navy not just protects Nigeria’s territorial integrity but also contributes its quota at the regional level, by patrolling the waters of the Gulf of Guinea, which is a vast expanse of water stretching almost 6,000km from Senegal to Angola.

But today, some of these challenges are gradually becoming a thing of the past especially when it comes to fleet acquisition, surveillance and ship building capacity.

Role of Hydrography

It’s a known fact that over 90 per cent of the world’s trade is conducted by the sea, and this is, by far, the most cost-effective way to move large quantity of goods and raw materials around the world.

Thus, it would be safe to say that world economies have been hugely dependent on various maritime activities. Daily, about 180,000 vessels take to sea, 30 million tons of goods are ferried across the world; ports are built, coastal infrastructure are developed, coasts are defended, marine environmental plans are implemented. Also, cables carrying data run the length and breadth of the earth, enabling more than 3.7 billion humans use the internet daily.

One of the unseen forces that makes these possible is a hydrographer. Without the services of hydrographers, who provide charts and other nautical publications, voyages through the sea would have become a nightmare to captains of ships, who need to move goods and services from one part of the world to the order in a safe and economical way.

Over the years, the Nigerian Navy, in line with her constitutional roles, has been building both human and material capacities to enable her provide hydrographic services that meets international standard. These efforts have paid off. In recent times, Nigerian Navy Hydrographic Office (NNHO) ramped up its hydrographic capabilities with several first-of-its-kind products to support Nigeria’s Blue Economy project. This was seen during the last World Hydrography Day (WHD) when the NNHO published the first indigenous navigational chart ever produced by Nigeria; NG 2501 (Lagos Harbour Chart) with much fanfare.

According to the Hydrographer of the Navy during the last WHD, Rear Admiral Emeka Okafor, “this feat completed Nigeria’s hydrographic capacity development as required by the IHO”.

Essentially, with the induction of the state-of-the art offshore survey vessel, with autonomous capabilities, this has ensured that the navy will be fully poised to provide up-to-date marine geo-spatial information of Nigerian waters to diverse maritime operators, for enhanced economic growth of Nigeria.

According to the Director of Naval Information (DINFO), Commodore Suleman Dahun, it is envisaged that the rebirth of NNS LANA would afford the Nigerian Navy Hydrographic Department the leverage to successfully and systematically conduct hydrographic surveys and charting of Nigeria’s waters.

He said: “It would also afford Nigeria with the opportunity of keying into the General Bathymetric Charts of the Oceans (GEBCO) Seabed 2030 project and the Global Multi-Resolution Topography (GMRT) synthesis project which would ultimately facilitate Nigeria’s accomplishment of its obligation under SOLAS Convention in accordance with President Muhammadu Buhari’s deliberate and sustained policies on maritime safety and security.”

Fleet Recapitalisation

Asides its hydrographic role, the vessel is a boost to the fleet recapitalisation effort of the navy. It is pertinent to state that the foremost desire of every littoral state is to have a fleet with the right mix of platforms to meet its operational objectives in patrolling the vast littoral space.

So for the NN, seeking to overwhelm the criminals in their game, the requirement for enormous capacity upgrade has led to massive fleet recapitalisation, generous logistic support, retooled maintenance facilities and equipment restock, processes recalibration, and manpower boost in quality and quantity.

Construction

The new vessel was conceived as a replacement to the previous NNS LANA, a survey ship that was decommissioned about 10 years ago.
Notably, the construction of the Offshore Survey Vessel 190 MKII (NNS LANA) commenced in December 2019 and the project was divided into four major milestones which were: the completion of the deck molds, completion of hull blocks, hull assembly on the main deck and the delivery and installation of the main engines at the shipyard.

According to the Director of Information (DINFO), Commodore Suleman Dahun, these milestones were the benchmarks which determined the level of work achieved at each stage of the project. The building process was successfully completed and the ship was launched on September 24, 2020 at Les Sables d’Olonne, France.

Handover

In preparation for its onward journey home, NNS LANA was handed over to the Nigerian Navy in France on January 15, 2021 after the provisional acceptance trials was concluded. The crew training however commenced on January 2021 and ended on April 12, 2021.
They also signed contract for another 35 metre Offshore Survey Vessel with OCEA.

Flag Transfer

In taking delivery of the ship, a Flag Transfer Ceremony was held in France. This represents the transfer of responsibility, authority and accountability of a vessel from one flag state to another.

Speaking at the Flag Transfer Ceremony, the Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (rtd), represented by the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo stated that the new vessel was conceived as a replacement to the previous NNS LANA, a survey ship that was decommissioned about 10 years ago.

The minister, who was the special guest of honour at the event, added that the occasion marked a great milestone in the fulfilment of the dream of not only replacing but, enhancing Nigerian Navy’s survey capability. Importantly, the new vessel is expected to fill the void created following the decommissioning of the previous NNS LANA.

Highlighting the import of having a survey vessel like NNS LANA, he said that survey services and charting waterways play a crucial role in ensuring safe navigation as well as delivery of maritime security. Hence, NNS LANA will not only enhance the safety of Nigeria’s maritime environment but the ship will serve as a critical component in the projection of naval power for enhanced maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea.

While thanking President Muhammadu Buhari for his commitment towards the recapitalisation of the NN Fleet, he also added that the ship will play a critical role in protection of maritime resources and preservation of law and order at sea, thus contributing significantly to promotion of global maritime commerce.

Port Calls

After the inauguration, the NN’s newest Offshore Survey Vessel (NNS LANA) began her homeward journey to Nigeria. The voyage included port visits to Lisbon, Las Palmas, Banjul and Tema-Ghana before it arrived Nigeria on May 17, 2021.

Reception

At its arrival, the navy received the vessel at NNS BEECROFT Jetty and the parade ground respectively. At the reception, the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, who was the guest of honour, was elated at the capacity of the vessel.

After the arrival of the vessel at the jetty, part of the activities were the report of sea proceedings, tour of the ship by dignitaries led by the CNS and group photograph.

Revenue Generator

For the navy, aside the boost to hydrographic survey, the newly acquired hydrographic vessel, would be a revenue generator. According to the CNS, the vessel would also be deployed in Nigeria waters and anywhere her services are required inorder to boost hydrographic efforts within the Nigerian maritime space.

He said: “Where we get patronage from the Gulf of Guinea and other parties as may be, we will render services at a cost. So, she is a revenue generation asset for the country and the Nigeria Navy and other maritime agencies. It’s revenue generating in the sense that the Nigerian Hydrographer had been given approval to produce navigation charts for the country and the countries in West and Central Africa. Therefore, people such as maritime stakeholders will now have to pay for such charts inorder to procure them for their safe navigation.”

Capacity for Hydrographic Survey

NNS LANA (A499) was designed and purposely built to enable the NN conduct hydrographic and oceanographic surveys. It is also capable of conducting geophysical studies, search and rescue operations as well as patrol duties.

According to the CNS, “the induction of NNS LANA will enhance the capacity of the service to conduct hydrographic survey and provide charting service for safe navigation as well as delivery for maritime security.”

Noting that the vessel would soon join other NN ships at seas to contribute to the navy’s efforts in the defence of the nation’s maritime environment,
he added that the federal government has embraced the blue economy initiative inline with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal-14 agenda.

He said: “The agenda entails the sustainable exploration and exploitation of vast resources in the nation’s maritime environment. The provision of quality hydrographic services is key to the development of the various sectors of the blue economy. Therefore, the acquisition of this survey vessel is an affirmation of the federal government of Nigeria’s commitment towards the nation’s economic development.”

Gambo further noted that the navy would collaborate with other maritime stakeholders to actualise the country’s vision of developing a sustainable economy that would contribute to the nation’s socio-economic prosperity.

Maintenance

While thanking President Muhammadu Buhari for the enormous support to the navy’s recapitalisation effort, the CNS also pledged that routine maintenance on the vessel would be sacrosanct.

“She is a specialised and sophisticated vessel, therefore we have consciously procured both consumables and other spare parts that would last the next two to three years while she is in service. Also, the usual dockyard maintenance routine will also be observed just like other vessels are also observed in the course of her service,” he added.

Asset to Naval Fleet

Earlier, the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Jason Gbassa noted that the new acquisition was an asset to the naval fleet as reliable hydrographic data and information from the NN would further guide maritime activities

He said: “Putting it in context, NN’s capacity to conduct hydrographic survey that would assure safety of naval and merchant traffic over the sea was significantly impaired with the absence of a hydrographic ship in NN fleet. With NNS LANA joining the fleet, going forward, the maritime industry can be assured of getting improved and reliable hydrographic data and information from the NN to guide maritime activities.”

According to the FOC, in seafaring, safety is key and can mean life. “All the potentials and prospects man stands to benefit from the sea and by traversing it amounts to nothing without safety.
Anything that will keep one away from danger in an unfriendly environment such as the sea is welcome. Therefore, NNS LANA is one such asset hence our joy at receiving the ship”, he added.

Commending the leadership of the CNS, he said it reflects in his vision to re-energise the NN and motivate its personnel, adding that the command ” is grateful for this rare privilege to receive the brand new NNS LANA. I have no doubt that the ship will contribute to safety in the maritime industry as well as to Nigeria’s national security”.

CO’s Report

Also speaking, Commanding Officer (CO) NNS LANA, Captain Abdullateef Mahmud, who gave report of the sea proceedings said the ship spent 30 days at sea from France to her voyage to Lagos, Nigeria, amassing 440 hours at sea.

He said: “Based on the average speed of 10 knots, the ship covered a total distance of 4,005 nautical miles and approximately spent 30 days on the voyage. The ship stopped over at four countries which were Portugal, Spain, Gambia and Ghana.
The ship performed satisfactorily well during the voyage except for one oil operation unit that developed a problem which was rectified in Portugal.”

Capabilities

NNS LANA (A499) is designed and purposely built to enable the NN conduct hydrographic and oceanographic surveys. It is also capable of conducting geophysical studies, search and rescue operations as well as patrol duties.
The ship is equipped with state-of-the-art modern survey equipment as well as a well-equipped 7.6m surface vehicle for shallow water surveys.

Furthermore, the ship has an Automatic Weather Station (AWS), wet and dry laboratories, scientific and technical workshops as well as operating and processing rooms for survey data. The machineries include 2 x MTU engines, 3 x CAT main generators/one emergency generator, electric propulsion system and other auxiliaries.

The electric propulsion which is operated at survey speed is particularly installed to minimise distortion of data due to machinery noise. The ship has a maximum speed of 14 knots and a capacity of 50 crew.

It would also afford Nigeria with the opportunity of keying into the General Bathymetric Charts of the Oceans (GEBCO) Seabed 2030 project and the Global Multi-Resolution Topography (GMRT) synthesis project which would ultimately facilitate Nigeria’s accomplishment of its obligation under SOLAS Convention in accordance with President Muhammadu Buhari’s deliberate and sustained policies on maritime safety and security.

Essentially, it is envisaged that the rebirth of NNS LANA would afford the Nigerian Navy Hydrographic Department the leverage to successfully and systematically conduct hydrographic surveys and charting of Nigeria’s waters.