The Nigerian Navy has rescued 20 crew members from a vessel that went up in flames along the Calabar axis of the Oron–Calabar waterways in Cross River State.
The rescue operation was carried out on Monday by personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS OSE, after a distress call was received from Motor Vessel Chimba Express, which was sailing from Gabon to Calabar with scrap materials and other logistics.
A statement issued by the Base Operations Officer of Nigerian Navy Ship VICTORY, Lieutenant Commander Kelechi Ahunanya, and made available to our correspondent on Tuesday, said NNS OSE was on routine patrol when it received the emergency alert at about 1pm.
The statement explained that naval personnel immediately moved to the scene, where heavy smoke was seen rising from the vessel, necessitating swift rescue efforts.
“Crew members who had abandoned the vessel, as well as those stranded on deck, were rescued using life buoys,” the statement read.
It added that 20 crew members were successfully brought to safety and given first aid. The vessel was said to have a total crew of 21, made up of 14 Nigerians and seven Cameroonians.
Ahunanya disclosed that the vessel’s Chief Engineer, who allegedly jumped into the water to avoid a possible explosion, is still unaccounted for, noting that search and rescue operations are ongoing.
The statement further revealed that personnel from Forward Operating Base Ibaka, Naval Security Station 030 Houseboat and local fishermen assisted in the operation, while NNS OSE deployed portable pumps to tackle the fire, which affected the midship and aft sections of the vessel.
Ahunanya reaffirmed the Nigerian Navy’s commitment to safeguarding lives and protecting maritime assets within the nation’s waters in line with the directive of the Chief of the Naval Staff.