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NIMASA ACTIVATES EMERGENCY RESPONSE CENTRE FOLLOWING VESSEL COLLISION OFF BONNY ANCHORAGE
By Prince Benson Davies
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has confirmed a collision between two vessels at the Bonny Inner Anchorage, which occurred on May 20, 2026, at about 1130 hours. The incident involved MV MAERSK VALPARAISO, a container vessel, and MT LADY MARTINA, an oil tanker, at coordinates Latitude 4.512375 and Longitude 7.189429, leading to an oil spill in the immediate area.
The Deep Blue Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Bonny received a distress call at approximately 1130 hours regarding the collision involving MV Valparaiso, a Singapore-flagged container vessel with IMO No. 9433054, and MT Lady Martina, a Nigerian-flagged oil products tanker with IMO No. 5104033. In response, the Base immediately deployed 10 armed personnel onboard DB 214, one of the interceptor boats under the Deep Blue Project, to the scene of the incident.
Five crew members onboard MT Lady Martina sustained varying degrees of injuries and were promptly evacuated to the FOB Bonny sickbay for medical attention.
Following the collision, MT Lady Martina drifted ashore and is currently aground along the Bonny Channel, while MV Valparaiso remains grounded at the Bonny Inner Anchorage pending damage assessment and further investigation.
The management of MAERSK has officially reported the incident to the Agency. Consequently, the Director General of NIMASA, Dayo Mobereola, has ordered a full investigation into the immediate and remote causes of the collision.
In addition, NIMASA has established a Situation Monitoring Room to coordinate response efforts and monitor developments arising from the incident.
Dr. Mobereola who was personally on ground in Rivers State to inaugurate the situation room also directed the Agency’s Marine Environment Management Department to immediately commence an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the affected area, while taking necessary steps to mitigate the impact of the Tier 1 oil sheen and protect the marine environment.
NIMASA has since mobilised its response teams and is working closely with relevant stakeholders to contain the spill, assess structural damage, and ensure navigational safety in the Bonny Channel. The Agency said the establishment of the monitoring room will enable real-time coordination of all operational, environmental, and investigative activities as the situation develops.
The Agency reiterated its commitment to protecting Nigeria’s marine environment and maintaining the safety of vessels operating within the country’s waters. NIMASA noted that findings from the investigation and environmental assessment will be made public once concluded, in line with its mandate of transparency and accountability in maritime safety.
