The Nigerian Navy Receives An OSV 115 Vessel From French OCEA SA
The Nigerian Navy received the Offshore Survey Vessel (OSV) NNS ZHIZOKO (A506), which it ordered from French OCEA SA to optimize the functionality of the country’s Blue Economy, at a ceremony held at the Apapa shipyard in the west of Lagos Island. According to a statement from the Navy, the delivery of OSV 115 was accompanied by comprehensive support services such as training, spare parts, tooling, and all necessary documentation to ensure seamless integration and operation into the NN fleet.
OSV 115 is a hydrographic and oceanographic research vessel in the auxiliary ships class. The 35-meter-long ship, with a crew capacity of 12, a maximum speed of 12 knots, and a range of 3,000 nautical miles, is equipped to conduct extensive research in shallow and medium waters. To complete these and other tasks, OSV 115 ships are outfitted with high-performance technical and scientific instruments such as a multibeam echosounder, a single beam echosounder, water sampling, storage, and analysis equipment, and a wet laboratory. The ship also carries a 5.6-meter hydrographic boat that is fully equipped for research in small and shallow waters.
According to the Nigerian Navy, OSV 115 NNS ZHIZOKO, the newest member of the NN fleet, will work alongside OSV 190 “NNS LANA”, which was also built by OCEA SA and delivered in 2021. The primary mission of the new ship will be to conduct hydrographic and oceanographic research. In addition, the OSV 115 will be capable of performing a wide range of missions, including oil spill response, general patrol, search and rescue, and diving support.
As part of its ongoing efforts to protect its territorial waters and optimize the current administration’s Blue Economy initiatives, the Nigerian Navy has procured 18 ships from French OCEA SA, including OSV 115 NNS ZHIZOKO and OSV 190 NNS LANA, as well as two FPB 110 MKII patrol boats and two C-FALCON type interceptor ships. In recent years, Nigeria has ordered two 76-meter Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) from the Turkish Dearsan Shipyard with similar goals. The first of these ships was launched on October 26, 2023, the second on April 20, 2024. The Nigerian Navy is preparing to receive these two OPV 76s, which have already passed port and sea trials, in 2025.