NIMASA launches Probe into Bonny vessel colllision, sets up monitoring Room
NIMASA launches Probe into Bonny vessel collision, sets up monitoring Room
By Babatunde Aremu
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has set up a Situation Monitoring Room to coordinate response operations following a collision between a container vessel and an oil tanker at the Bonny Inner Anchorage on May 20, 2026.
A statement issued and signed by the Deputy Director Public Relations of the Agency, Osagie Edwards on Friday said the incident occurred at about 1130 hours near Latitude 4.512375 and Longitude 7.189429, involving MV _Maersk Valparaiso_, a Singapore-flagged container vessel with IMO No. 9433054, and MT _Lady Martina_, a Nigerian-flagged oil products tanker with IMO No. 5104033. The collision resulted in an oil spill in the affected area.
According to NIMASA, the Deep Blue Forward Operating Base in Bonny received a distress call at 1130 hours and immediately deployed 10 armed personnel onboard interceptor boat DB 214 to the scene. Five crew members onboard MT _Lady Martina_ sustained injuries of varying degrees and were evacuated to the FOB Bonny sickbay for medical attention.
MT _Lady Martina_ drifted ashore and is currently grounded along the Bonny Channel, while MV _Maersk Valparaiso_ remains at the Bonny Inner Anchorage pending damage assessment and investigation.
Maersk has formally reported the incident to the agency. NIMASA Director General Dayo Mobereola has ordered a full investigation into both the immediate and underlying causes of the collision.
Mobereola was in Rivers State to inaugurate the Situation Monitoring Room, which will coordinate response efforts and track developments. He also directed the agency’s Marine Environment Management Department to begin an Environmental Impact Assessment of the affected area and take immediate steps to contain the Tier 1 oil sheen and limit damage to the marine environment.
NIMASA said further updates and the findings of the investigation will be released to the public as they become available.
