The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency has confirmed a vessel collision in Bonny Channel, Rivers, which caused an oil spill.

NIMASA said the incident occurred around Latitude 4.512375 and Longitude 7.189429, leading to oil pollution in the affected area.

The agency’s deputy spokesman, Osagie Edward, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.

Mr Edward said the Deep Blue Forward Operating Base in Bonny received a distress call at about 11:30 a.m. regarding the collision. He said the incident involved MV Valparaiso, a Singapore-flagged container vessel with IMO Number 9433054, and MT Lady Martina, a Nigerian-flagged oil products tanker.

According to him, the Deep Blue Base immediately deployed 10 armed personnel aboard interceptor boat DB 214 to the scene.

Mr Edward said five crew members aboard MT Lady Martina sustained varying degrees of injuries during the incident. He said the injured crew members were evacuated to the forward operating base’s sickbay in Bonny for immediate medical 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,” Mr Edward said.

He said the management of MAERSK had officially reported the incident to the agency.

Mr Edward said the director-general of NIMASA, Dayo Mobereola, had ordered a full investigation into the immediate and remote causes of the collision. He added that NIMASA had established a Situation Monitoring Room to coordinate emergency response efforts and monitor developments from the incident.

Mr Mobereola had personally visited Rivers to inaugurate the monitoring room and oversee response operations in the state. He also directed the agency’s Marine Environment Management Department to begin an Environmental Impact Assessment of the affected area immediately.

Mr Mobereola urged officials to take necessary measures to mitigate the impact of the Tier One oil sheen and safeguard the marine environment.

(NAN)