A firm, Sub-sea Ocean Limited, owners of a motor tanker, Mt Praisel vessel accused of transporting 1,114,721 litres of crude, has threatened to take legal action against a private security outfit, Tantita Security Service Limited owned by Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, also known as Tompolo, for accusing the vessel of crude theft.
In a letter on Friday signed by the company’s secretary, Paul Ishabor, and obtained by Saturday PUNCH, the company explained that the said vessel was currently under hire with Stratos Trading Limited under a charter party agreement dated July 25, 2023.
Recall that the TSSL arrested Mt Praisel escorted by a Navy gunboat in the creeks on Delta State.
Reacting to this, Ishabor said that as a law-abiding firm, the company frowned upon the unfounded allegation published by some media outfits about the company.
He added that the publication was not just embarrassing to the organisation but violated the organisation’s hard-earned reputation built over the years.
The letter read in part, “We are the owners of MT. Praisel, a Nigerian Flag motor tanker vessel, with call sign 5NGX2, IMO: 9206891 currently under charter by Stratos Trading Limited.
“Our attention has been drawn to a report of Thursday, 3rd of August, 2023 wherein it was said that the above-named vessel had been arrested by security agents, TSSL on allegation of being laden with stolen crude oil.
“As a responsible and law-abiding organisation with a long history and track record of compliance with laws and regulations that govern the maritime, oil, and gas industry in which we operate, we seriously frown upon this unfounded and baseless allegation which is not just embarrassing to our organisation but impeaches on our hard-earned reputation built over the years.”
Ishabor explained that the company was duly registered with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency.
The company’s scribe maintained that the firm had been a long-time player in the maritime, oil & gas Industry.
Ishabor added that under the charter agreement, the vessel must load a cargo of several voyages of High Pour Fuel Oil belonging to Stratos Trading Limited.
“Under the said Charter Party Agreement, Mt. Praisel must load cargo of several voyages of HPFO belonging to Stratos Trading Limited and covered by Petroleum Product Offtake Permits and Vessel Release of Nomination issued by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority from Greenmac Energy Limited at Taurus Jetty, Koko for discharge at Bonny Inner Anchorage and San Barth Jetty, Port Harcourt as bunker.”
He said that it is part of the fulfillment of their obligations under the charter party agreement.
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