MT Norte, formerly MT Iver Explorer, was a Brazilian oil tanker.
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name |
|
| Ordered | 28 April 1988[1] |
| Builder | Uljanik, Pula, Croatia[1] |
| Yard number | 391[1] |
| Laid down | 25 November 1989[1] |
| Launched | 12 May 1990[1] |
| Completed | 8 February 1991[1] |
| In service | 1991–2018[2] |
| Identification | IMO number: 8706090[2] |
| Fate | Broken up[2] |
| General characteristics [1] | |
| Type | Product tanker |
| Tonnage | |
| Length | 176 m (577 ft) |
| Beam | 32 m (105 ft) |
| Draught | 11.23 m (37 ft) |
| Depth | 15.1 m (50 ft) |
| Installed power | Burmeister & Wain 5L60MC (7,830 kW) |
| Propulsion | Single shaft; fixed-pitch propeller |
| Speed | 14.3 knots (26.5 km/h; 16.5 mph) |
In August 2013 pirates hijacked Norte, when it was servicing oil fields off the coast of Nigeria.[3][4][5][6]
The pirates held Norte for four days.[4] Nigerian authorities negotiated a peaceful surrender.[7] According to the Sahara Reporters the Nigerians agreed that only one vessel would shadow Norte, and the remaining seven vessels would withdraw. According to the Sahara Reporters the Nigerians were surprised when the pirates tried to escape. NNS Badagry pursued the pirates, and engaged in a thirty minute chase and gun battle.[8] Only four pirates survived, and were taken into custody. Twelve pirates who had been killed went down with their boat, which had been riddled with gunfire. Piracy Report challenged Nigeria's policy of not laying charges against pirates, asserting it increased the risk of piracy.[9]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h "Norte (8706090)". Sea-web. S&P Global. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
- ^ a b c d e "Norte (8706090)". Equasis. Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
- ^
"Nigerian Navy concludes investigation on hijacked MT NORTE Vessel". Premium Times. 2013-11-27. Retrieved 2018-06-15.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba, said the Nigerian Navy had concluded investigation on the suspects apprehended in connection with the hijacked MT NORTE vessel.
- ^ a b
Mike Odiegwu (2013-08-19). "Navy kills 12 pirates in gun battle". The Nation. Retrieved 2018-06-15.
The bandits numbering 16 were said to have hijacked an oil vessel, MT NORTE, loaded with 17,000 metric tonnes of Petrol Motor Spirit (PMS), off Nigerian waters in the Gulf of Guinea.
- ^ Michael McNicholas (2016). Maritime Security: An Introduction. Butterworth-Heinemann. p. 177. ISBN 9780128036730. Retrieved 2018-06-15.
- ^
Shola O’Neil, Mike Odiegwu (2013-08-20). "Navy kills 12 suspected pirates". The Nation (Nigeria). Port Harcourt. Retrieved 2018-07-17.
He said FOB FORMOSO despatched two newly- acquired boats, NNS BADAGRY and NNS BOMADI, and NNS Delta ordered NNS OBULA to join the rescue.
- ^
"Nigerian Navy Recovers Hijacked Oil Vessel, Kills 12 Pirates". Sahara Reporters. 2013-08-19. Retrieved 2018-06-15.
'An agreed drop point was reached but the suspected militants refused to disembark as earlier agreed, obviously playing for time and darkness to set in. They finally agreed to disembark from MT Norte at 2045hrs on 17th of August, 2013 on condition that only one Naval vessel would remain in the vicinity of the MT Norte.'
- ^
"Piracy in West Africa: Nigerian Navy Gun Down 12 Pirates at the Oil-Rich Niger Delta / Africa News]". National Turk. 2013-08-13. Retrieved 2018-06-14.
'Efforts to get the hijackers to stop and surrender proved abortive as they engaged NNS Badagry in a gun battle, the gun battle between NNS Badagry and the pirates lasted for about 30 minutes after which they were over-powered, 12 were killed and four of them surrendered by raising up their hands,' a statement from the Navy stated.
- ^
"With no Prosecutions of Pirates in the Gulf of Guinea, Business is Booming". Piracy Report. Retrieved 2018-06-17.
On 15 August 2013 the MT Norte, carrying 17,000 metric tonnes of gasoline was hijacked at an undisclosed location in the Gulf of Guinea. The Notre sent an emergency signal. The Nigerian Navy intercepted the vessel on 17 August. The pirates escaped in a speed boat with the Navy in pursuit. During a gun battle 12 pirates were killed and four arrested.