The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Adm. Ette-Ibok Ibas, has said that the CNS annual sea inspection tagged ‘Operation Still Waters’ was rewarding as it impacted positively on the operational proficiency of personnels.
Rear Adm. Kamalrudeen Lawal, the Chief of Naval Safety and Standard, who represented the CNS, made this known on Thursday at the end of the exercise which began on Dec. 14.
“It’s pertinent to state that ‘Operation Still Waters’ was rewarding as it has impacted positively on the operational proficiency of personnel in several areas.
“The exercise also provided the platform to align our training objectives with our operational realities toward curtailing various threats in our maritime domain and the Gulf of Guinea.
“Additionally, the four-day exercise provided a test-bench for the planning and execution of coordinated strike capability as well as assessment of some of our planning assumptions,” he said.
The CNS said that the Nigerian Navy (NN) would work on some of the observations.
“We have noted some of the observations and lessons learnt. We will apply to improve our operations.
“As this is important for the continued security of our maritime domain and the Gulf of Guinea which are key to the national and regional stability as well as economic prosperity.
“Hence, the conduct of this form of maritime exercises will be sustained,this will guide us in assessing and revising some of our operational procedures and ensure relevance in our quest to conduct decisive maritime combat operation,” he said.
He said that the goals were hinged on proper training and regular drills, saying that training exercises all over the world were conducted to correct weaknesses and sustain strength.
“In achieving these objectives, training exercises will always be tough and physically challenging ,this is in line with the Maxim which says ‘the more we sweat in peace time, the less we bleed in war’.
“In this regard, some of the exercises included, Anti-piracy operation, Protection of oil and gas facilities, Fleet manoeuvers, Communication, Vessel, Board Search and Seizure, Search and Rescue among others,” he said.
Ibas said that throughout the exercise there were no hitches, adding that the NN successfully carried out not less than seven onboard landing with the helicopters.
He reteriated that the NN would spare no effort in ensuring a safe and secure maritime environment.
The ships which participated in the exercise include NNS OKPBANA, NNS PROSPERITY, NNS NGURU, NNS EKULU,NNS KARADUWA, NNS ANDONI, NNS DORINA, NNS OSUN, NNS BOMADI, NNS OSE, TUG DOLPHIN RIMA, TUG DOLPHIN MIRA.
Two helicopters and elements of the Special Boat Service (SBS) took part in the exercise.
