Ghana Navy Fleet and Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) have successfully concluded a 10-day work-up exercise onboard the MV ESTHER OCLOO at Naval Base Sekondi. The closing ceremony, held on Friday, 4 September 2026, brought together representatives from the GMA, Petroleum Commission, Tullow Oil and other stakeholders in the maritime and petroleum sectors. The exercise was designed to assess the vessel’s equipment, crew readiness and overall operational preparedness, particularly its capacity to support maritime safety, security and oil-spill response operations within Ghana’s maritime domain.
In his opening remarks, the Flag Officer Fleet (FOF), Naval Captain Bekuin-Wurapa, commended the crew of MV ESTHER OCLOO for their commitment, professionalism and active participation throughout the exercise. He said the work-up exercise had provided an important platform to evaluate the readiness of the ship and its crew and identified areas that required further attention. Naval Captain Wurapa also stressed the importance of continuous training in maintaining operational effectiveness, reaffirming Ghana Navy’s commitment to supporting initiatives that enhances maritime safety, security and operational preparedness.
The Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command (FOC WNC), Commodore Stephen Billins Nyam, also expressed appreciation to the GMA and the ship’s crew for their dedication to the exercise. He noted that work-up exercises were essential to enhancing operational readiness, interoperability and coordination among institutions responsible for maritime safety and security. Commodore Nyam reiterated the Ghana Navy’s commitment to working closely with the GMA and other relevant stakeholders to maintain a safe, secure and stable maritime environment.
In his address, the Director-General of the Ghana Maritime Authority, Naval Captain Dr Ali Kamal-Deen (Retired), commended the participating personnel and institutions for their dedication and professionalism. He observed that the exercise had provided a valuable opportunity to test the preparedness of the crew, strengthen inter-agency coordination, and identify areas for improvement.
Representatives from Tullow Oil and the Petroleum Commission also commended the Ghana Navy and GMA for organising the exercise. They emphasised that a safe and secure maritime environment was critical to sustaining offshore petroleum operations and protecting offshore infrastructure.
The ceremony ended with a tour of the MV Esther Ocloo by dignitaries, followed by demonstrations of the vessel’s firefighting and oil-spill response capabilities.
The MV Esther Ocloo is a multipurpose oil-spill response vessel acquired by the Ghana Maritime Authority and named after renowned Ghanaian entrepreneur Esther Afua Ocloo. The vessel serves as a strategic national asset for oil-spill detection, recovery, surveillance and environmental protection.
Story by: Cpl Bismark AgyarePictures by : Mr Jasper Sackey
