NIMASA’s Deep Blue operatives rescue seven distressed workers

Security operatives attached to the Deep Blue Project of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency NIMASA, have rescued a total of seven distressed offshore workers. This was sequel to a prompt response, which followed a distress call put across to the Director General of the agency, Dr Bashir Jamoh by the embattled workers.

 It was learnt that the call came at about 11.30 pm on February 2, 2023, from the safety officer on onboard MT ALIMA, in which he reported that while cleaning the tanks of the vessel by a private cleaning company, eight of the cleaners developed complications due to insufficient oxygen available in the tank to sustain them.

The position (coordinates) of the ship at the time of the call was 06*20.9’’N,003*21.9’’E at the Single Buoy Mooring SBM area in Lagos. 

It was further gathered that the Jamoh, who immediately directed the NIMASA head of the Deep Blue Project and head of the Maritime Safety Department to deploy one of the fast intervention boats for the rescue operations and also directed immediate medical attention for the survivors.

NIMASA took the seven survivors to the Military Hospital, Ikoyi for medical attention, where they are currently at various stages of recovering, as five of them are now in stable condition, one has a broken leg and one is still in critical condition.

The DG reassured the maritime community of NIMASA’s ever-ready 24-hour vigilance to respond to distress calls using any of the procured air, land and sea assets. He also urged operators to be more meticulous about basic safety standards at all times.

He said: “Anyone working on board vessels should update themselves with required training that complies with Standards of Training Certification and Watchkeeping STCW in line with the revised Manila Convention.”

Jamoh however thanked the rescue team for the operation and urged them to keep the maritime tradition of round-the-clock watchkeeping and timely response at all times.