P18N Offshore Patrol Vessel
In October 2012, China’s Wuchan Shipyard began construction of the first of two P18N offshore patrol vessels for the Nigerian Navy. These vessels are 95 meters long with a full load displacement of 1,800 tons. They are being built by China Shipbuilding and Offshore International Limited, the trade arm of China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC). They will be delivered in around three years’ time [ie, around 2015] and will be partly built in Nigeria. It is a Type 056 corvette – with a specific Nigerian designation that is “P18N” - an enlarged OPV derivative of the Type 056 corvette . It can still be converted to a full, enlarged corvette with the right panoply.
Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan confirmed in 2012 that Nigeria will buy two 1800-ton OPV from China , and the annual defense budget includes 6.78 billion naira (Naira), equivalent to $ 42 million; the addition , order matching helicopters and related logistical components of the funding of 10.4 billion naira ($ 6.5 million). It is speculated that China was in contact with Nigeria in 2010 at Africa Aerospace Defence Exhibition (AAD 2010) to get the deal. The main tasks of such a patrol ship model P18N (P implies patrol ship Patrol, 18 means 1800-ton, N represents Nigeria Nigeria), include patrolling coastal defense, protection of the exclusive economic zone (EEZ), maritime search and rescue prevention of marine pollution, etc..
Nigeria's first new-type patrol ship F91 stealth patrol ship that China plans to export was successfully launched on 27 January 2014. It will be delivered in the middle of 2014 as scheduled. It will become the first ship of the Nigerian navy's P18N project. Its major missions include patrolling and guard duties along the coastline, protecting exclusive maritime economic areas, carrying out marine search and rescue, and preventing marine pollution. According to relevant data, the F19 patrol ship has a full length of 95 meters and a waterline length of 89 meters. With two diesel master engines, and a top speed of about 39 km/hour, it can navigate on the sea for 20 consecutive days.
The new Offshore Patrol Vessel for the Nigerian Navy was launched by the First Lady, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan. The call sign of the OPV is F91. The First Lady also performed the Hull formation of the second OPV being built by the China Shipbuilding and Offshore International Limited.
Speaking at the occasion, Mrs Jonathan noted that the event was a demonstration of the commitment and resolve of the present administration to establish a virile Navy capable of protecting Nigeria’s maritime domain. She explained that Mr President had shown great commitment to the rapid transformation of Nigeria, particularly with the approval for the recapitalization of the Nigerian Navy fleet to enable it address various maritime security challenges.
The First Lady emphasized that effective maritime security is vital to the realization of the Transformation Agenda of the present administration in Nigeria, in view of the fact that the country places significant velue on the economic benefits of its coastal and marine areas. She expressed delight that the fitting-out of the second vessel would be completed at the Naval Shipyard in Port-Harcourt, Nigeria, appealing to the officers and ratings of the Nigerian Navy to continue to discharge their duties with utmost professionalism, loyalty and integrity.
The Chief of the Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Usman Jibrin who was represented at the event by the Chief of Policy and Plans, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ogbor praised President Goodluck Jonathan for his commitment to entrench a robust and combat ready Navy. Admiral Ogbor thereafter joined the First Lady and senior officials of China Shipbuilding and Offshore Company to cut the ribbon and break the traditional bottle of champagne for the ship launch. It will be recalled that the hull formation of the vessel was done in September 2013.
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