The Nigerian Navy successfully rescued 20 crew members from a burning vessel along the Oron-Calabar waterways in Cross River State on Monday.

The incident began on December 22, when the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) OSE, while on routine patrol, intercepted a distress call from the MV Chimba Express. The vessel, which was transporting scrap metal and logistics from Gabon to Calabar, was engulfed in flames.

According to a statement from Lt.-Commander Kelechi Ahunanya, Base Operations Officer of NNS VICTORY, the naval team received the distress signal around 1:00 PM and arrived shortly thereafter to find thick smoke billowing from the ship.

Naval personnel immediately launched a dual-pronged operation to combat the blaze and extract the crew. Using lifebuoys and emergency equipment, the team rescued personnel who had already abandoned the ship and those still stranded on the deck.

The fire primarily affected the midship and aft sections of the vessel, Ahunanya stated. NNS OSE deployed portable pumps to contain the blaze, while personnel from the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Ibaka, Naval Security Station 030, and local fishermen provided critical support.

The crew consisted of 14 Nigerians and 7 Cameroonians. While 20 individuals were safely evacuated and administered first aid, one remains unaccounted for.

The vessel’s Chief Engineer reportedly jumped overboard shortly after the fire broke out, fearing an imminent explosion. Despite ongoing search and rescue efforts, he has not yet been located.

The Nigerian Navy has reaffirmed its dedication to maritime safety and the protection of assets within national waters, citing the operational mandate of the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS).

Vessel Name: MV Chimba Express Route: Gabon to Calabar Cargo: Scraps and Logistics Total Crew: 21 (20 Rescued, 1 Missing) Responding Units: NNS OSE, NNS VICTORY, FOB Ibaka