The Base Operations Officer of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) OSE, Lieutenant Commander Kelechi Ahunanya, disclosed the incident in Calabar on Tuesday, December 23, saying the officer discovered the burning ship during their routine patrol of the waterways.
He said: “The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) OSE, while on routine patrol, responded to a distress call at about 1300 hours from the ship. The ship was coming from Gabon to Calabar with scrap materials and other logistics.
“On arrival, thick smoke was observed emanating from the vessel, prompting immediate rescue operations. Crew members who had abandoned ship, as well as those stranded on deck, were rescued using life buoys.
“Twenty crew members were successfully rescued and administered first aid.”
According to him, the Chief Engineer of the ship, who reportedly jumped overboard due to fear of an explosion, remains missing, and a search and rescue operation is ongoing.
He added that the rescue operation had the support of personnel from Forward Operating Base, IBAKA, Naval Security Station 030 Houseboat, and local fishermen.
“NNS OSE also deployed portable pumps to combat the fire, which affected the midship and aft sections of the vessel,” he added.
