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From Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar
The Nigerian Navy on Monday night rescued 20 crew members as their vessel caught fire along the Calabar Channel in Cross River State.
The Base Operations Officer, Lt.-Cdr Kelechi Ahunaya, in a statement in Calabar, said the vessel, a Motor Vessel (MV) Chimba Express had on board 21 persons comprising 14 Nigerians and seven Cameroonians. One of them was missing as at the time of this report.
The statement read: “The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) OSE, while on routine patrol, responded to a distress call at about 1300 hours from the vessel, which was en route 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.
“The Chief Engineer, who reportedly jumped overboard due to fear of an explosion, remains missing, and a search and rescue operation is ongoing,” he stated.
He added that the rescue operation had the support of personnel from Forward Operating Base, IBAKA, Naval Security Station 030 Houseboat, and local fishermen supported the operation.
“NNS OSE also deployed portable pumps to combat the fire, which affected the midship and aft sections of the vessel.”
Ahunanya emphasised that the Nigerian Navy remains committed to the safety of seafarers and maritime assets, in line with the mandate of the Chief of the Naval Staff.
