Navy hands over another refurbished Beninois warship
The second of three Beninois Navy warships – BNS PENDJARI, COUFFO, and MBK-tugged from Port Novo, Cotonou to the Naval Dockyard Limited in Victoria Island, for overhaul has been relaunched.
The ship, BNS COUFFO, was handed over to the French country’s Navy by the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, and started its return journey home after the rehabilitation that lasted more than one year.
The Nation reports that both countries’ Navies entered an agreement earlier last year for the NDL to dock, refit and repair six of BNS’ warships and gunboats that had been moribund for several years to improve security in the Gulf of Guinea region.
Speaking at the handover, the CNS, who was represented by the Chief of Naval Engineering, Rear Admiral Baratuaipri Iyalla, commended the team at the dockyard for deploying local manpower to get the job done.
He said completing the task in good time was testament of the Navy’s capability to deliver world-class ship maintenance and repairs.
“Today, we stand on the precipice of history as we witness the re-launch of BNS COUFFO after an extensive period of docking and refurbishment. This collaboration is a reflection of the Nigerian Navy’s resolve to contribute to the development of indigenous shipbuilding and maritime capabilities, not just for Nigeria, but for the entire African region,” he said.
The ships, which had been moribund for several years were brought in here by the Navy as the first phase of resuscitating their Navy. This is the second of the three ships that is being completed today.
“It was brought here without power but today it is sailing back on its own to the Benin Republic to serve their Navy. So that’s exactly what we have witnessed today and we are hoping that in another two weeks or thereabouts, we’ll be delivering the final vessel of the first phase and then we will expect some more vessels from the Benin Republic.
“This refit that we have done is the culmination of several years of progress that the Navy has experienced since the Naval Dockyard and indeed the entire maintenance machinery of the Nigerian Navy was formed at the onset.
“We have been improving upon this capability and today, the NN has over 50 ships in its fleet which are all maintained locally.
“Beyond the local maintenance of these ships, we are also in the process of constructing ships with the Naval Dockyard. Here in the Naval Dockyard Limited, we have been able to construct three seaward defence boats (SDB) that are currently serving the Navy and all manpower was sourced locally, no foreign engineers or foreigners.
“That another country’s Navy has now brought this scale of work to us is a testimony to what we can do together as a continent, first from West Africa. As a matter of fact, none of the countries on its own can tackle whatever the security challenges are because these security challenges are international, they are common to almost all of us along the coastline, both on the maritime front and even from the land.
“As you know, the sea connects every one of us together and crimes easily move from one country to another. So it is only through this kind of cooperation that we can develop effectively, the capacity to do these things.
“So, we are looking forward not just to repairing ships, refitting ships like this, but we are looking to in the future build ships for the Beninois Navy, which we would even maintain in the long term for them.
So, this is a big event and we are hoping that it will not stop with the Beninois Navy, it will extend to the entire West Africa and even beyond West Africa.
“In fact, we are looking forward to the day when the West will come to us to do their construction,” he said.
Admiral Superintendent Naval Dockyard Limited (ASNDL), Rear Admiral Ibrahim Shehu, highlighted the technical achievements of the Dockyard team in restoring the ship to seaworthy condition. He described the project as a “strategic milestone” in enhancing the Dockyard’s commercial viability and technical reputation.
“The re-launch of BNS COUFFO after its maiden docking and repairs marks another bold step in our efforts to promote indigenous capacity in shipbuilding and maritime engineering.
“The works carried out included major hull repairs, complete overhaul of propulsion and auxiliary systems, and restoration of degraded sections, all done to international standards.”
The Chief of Naval Staff, Benin Republic, Navy Captain Dossa Hounkpatin, who was represented by Commander Wenceslas Gbaguidi, expressed appreciation to the Nigerian Navy for its professionalism and partnership.
“This collaboration reinforces the fraternal ties between our two countries and sets a model for African-led solutions to maritime challenges. BNS’ PENDJARI has been working very well,” he added.
