Lagos: The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has confirmed a vessel collision in the Bonny Channel, Rivers, that caused an oil spill.
NIMASA said the incident occurred at Latitude 4.512375 and Longitude 7.189429, resulting in oil pollution in the affected area.
The agency’s Deputy Director and Head of Public Relations, Mr Osagie Edward, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday in Lagos.
At about 11:30 a.m., the Deep Blue Forward Operating Base in Bonny received a distress call about the collision.
He said the incident involved two vessels: MV Valparaiso, a container vessel registered under the Singapore flag with IMO Number 9433054, and MT Lady Martina, an oil products tanker registered under the Nigerian flag.
Deep Blue Base immediately deployed 10 armed personnel in the interceptor boat DB 214 to the scene after the distress call.
Five crew members aboard MT Lady Martina sustained injuries during the incident.
The injured crew members were quickly evacuated to the Forward Operating Base sickbay in Bonny for treatment.
“Following the collision, MT Lady Martina drifted ashore and is currently aground along the Bonny Channel.
“MV Valparaiso also remains grounded at the Bonny Inner Anchorage pending damage assessment and further investigation,” Edward said.
He said the management of MAERSK had officially reported the incident to the agency.
Edward continued that following the MAERSK report, the Director-General of NIMASA, Dayo Mobereola, ordered a full investigation into the immediate and remote causes of the collision.
Subsequently, NIMASA established a Situation Monitoring Room to coordinate emergency response efforts and monitor developments related to the incident.
To oversee operations directly, Mobereola personally visited Rivers to inaugurate the monitoring room and supervise the response in the state.
In addition, the Director-General directed the Marine Environment Management Department to immediately begin an Environmental Impact Assessment of the affected area.
Mobereola urged officials to take necessary measures to mitigate the impact of the Tier One oil sheen and safeguard the marine environment.
