The Nigerian Navy and Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company Limited (SEEPCO) have strengthened Nigeria’s maritime security architecture with the induction of the Security Support Vessel (SSV) KALI 3, designed to enhance the protection of critical energy infrastructure and the nation’s maritime interests.
The vessel was inducted on August 18, 2026, at Asemoku Jetty, Delta State, at a ceremony presided over by the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas.
The event was attended by the Delta State Deputy Governor, Chief (Sir) Monday John Onyeme, who represented Governor Sheriff Francis Orohwedor Oborevwori, alongside senior military officers, government officials, traditional rulers, maritime stakeholders and representatives of the private sector.
KALI 3 is the first of 10 Security Support Vessels being provided by SEEPCO to the Nigerian Navy under a Memorandum of Agreement between the company and the Navy.
The initiative represents a strategic public-private partnership aimed at converting private-sector investment into tangible maritime security capabilities, particularly in support of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry and other critical offshore assets.
A major feature of the project is its indigenous content. KALI 3 was designed and built in Nigeria at the Okpai HM Shipyard in Delta State, in collaboration with the Nigerian Navy.
The development underscores the growing role of Nigeria’s indigenous shipbuilding industry in strengthening national security, deepening local capacity and creating opportunities within the maritime and energy sectors.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Chief of the Naval Staff stressed the importance of securing Nigeria’s maritime domain and critical energy infrastructure to sustaining economic activities, particularly oil and gas operations.
He commended SEEPCO for its commitment to the vessel programme and called on other responsible maritime stakeholders to support initiatives that contribute to national security and the protection of Nigeria’s economic assets.
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The SSV KALI 3 is designed for a range of maritime security operations, including coastal and offshore surveillance, interdiction, anti-piracy operations, maritime law enforcement and escort duties.
Its capabilities are particularly suited to Nigeria’s complex coastal and shallow-water environment, where effective protection of offshore installations, vessels and other strategic assets remains critical to uninterrupted energy production and maritime trade.
The collaboration between the Nigerian Navy and SEEPCO also highlights the increasing importance of public-private partnerships in addressing maritime security challenges while promoting indigenous industrial capacity.
With nine additional vessels expected under the agreement, the initiative could further strengthen the Navy’s operational reach and support efforts to secure Nigeria’s maritime assets and the critical infrastructure that underpins the country’s energy economy.
