Chinese Offshore Patrol Vessel Received by Nigerian Navy

Nigerian Navy received a new patrol vessel built in China which arrived in the African nation on Friday.

The first of the 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 its finishing and fitting work will be done in Nigeria, Chinese media reported.

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.

Nigeria, Africa's largest oil producer, has seen an increase in piracy in the Gulf of Guinea in recent years.

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.