Nigeria TV Info — MARITIME / SECURITY

Nigerian Navy Rescues 20 Crew Members From Burning Vessel in Calabar Waterways

Personnel of the Nigerian Navy have successfully rescued 20 crew members from a burning vessel, MV Chimba Express, following a fire outbreak along the Calabar waterways.

The swift rescue operation was carried out after the Nigerian Navy Ship OSE (NNS OSE), during a routine patrol, received a distress call from the vessel at about 1:00 p.m. on Monday.

In a statement, the Director of Naval Information, Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, said naval personnel who arrived at the scene discovered that while some crew members had jumped into the water to escape the raging fire, others were stranded on the exposed deck of the vessel.

He explained that personnel from NNS OSE, Naval Security Station 030, and Forward Operating Base Ibaka immediately launched a coordinated joint rescue operation, which led to the successful evacuation of 20 crew members from the distressed ship.

According to Adams-Aliu, a total of 21 persons were on board MV Chimba Express at the time of the incident. He disclosed that search and rescue operations are ongoing to locate one missing crew member, identified as the vessel’s Chief Engineer.

The Nigerian Navy noted that while efforts continue to find the missing officer, the successful rescue highlights the service’s operational readiness, rapid response capability, and effective inter-unit coordination in safeguarding lives and maritime assets within Nigeria’s waterways.