The Nigerian Navy on Monday night rescued 20 crew members as their vessel caught fire along the Calabar Channel.

The Base Operations Officer, Lt.-Cdr Kelechi Ahunanya, disclosed this in a statement in Calabar on Tuesday.

Mr Ahunanya said the vessel, a Motor Vessel (MV) Chimba Express, with 21 persons comprising 14 Nigerians and seven Cameroonians on board, still has one person missing as of the time of this report.

According to him, the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) OSE, while on routine patrol, responded to a distress call at about 1300 hours from the vessel.

He said the vessel 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 officer said.

According to him, the chief engineer, 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 fishermen supported the operation.

“NNS OSE also deployed portable pumps to combat the fire, which affected the midship and aft sections of the vessel,” he stated.

Ahunanya reaffirmed the Nigerian Navy’s commitment to the safety of seafarers and maritime assets in line with the Chief of the Naval Staff’s Mission.

(NAN)