NIMASA establishes situation monitoring room following vessel collision, oil spill

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has established a Situation Monitoring Room following a collision between a container vessel and an oil tanker at the Bonny Inner Anchorage on Wednesday, May 20, 2026.

The incident, which occurred at approximately 11:30 AM, resulted in an oil spill and left five crew members injured.

According to a statement issued by NIMASA’s Deputy Director and Head of Public Relations, Osagie Edward, the collision involved the MV Maersk Valparaiso, a Singapore-flagged container vessel, and the MT Lady Martina, a Nigerian-flagged oil products tanker.

Upon receiving a distress call, the Deep Blue Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Bonny immediately dispatched 10 armed personnel aboard interceptor boat DB 214 to the scene.

Emergency responders successfully evacuated five injured crew members from the MT Lady Martina and transported them to the FOB Bonny sickbay for medical treatment.

Following the impact, the MT Lady Martina drifted ashore and remains aground along the Bonny Channel.

Meanwhile, the MV Maersk Valparaiso is currently grounded at the Bonny Inner Anchorage awaiting a comprehensive damage assessment.

The Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, who traveled to Rivers State to personally inaugurate the Situation Monitoring Room, has ordered a full investigation into the immediate and remote causes of the collision.

The management of Maersk has also formally reported the incident to the maritime regulatory agency.

In response to the environmental threat, Dr. Mobereola directed NIMASA’s Marine Environment Management Department to immediately launch an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

The team has been mandated to deploy containment measures to mitigate the impact of the resulting Tier 1 oil sheen and safeguard the local marine ecosystem.

The agency further assured the public that further updates will be provided as the investigation unfolds and clean-up operations progress.