Quick intervention by officials of the Nigeria Ports Authority and the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) averted a maritime disaster off the coast of Nigeria, NEXT has learnt.

The intervention by the agencies ensured that over 400 passengers were rescued from a distressed Sao Tome flagged boat.

The vessel, "Liliana Carneiro," a small passenger ship built for coastal trading, was on voyage from Gabon to Cotounou, Benin Republic, before it ran out of fuel and water in Nigeria's coastal waters.

The captain of the boat, Do Rosario, explained that his crew and passengers left Gabon on Sunday night for a 72 hour voyage. Hours into the journey, he said, the crew realized that the boat was in trouble.

Mr. Rosario said the crew had to shut down one of the boat's engines when they noticed that fuel was leaking and their supply will not take them to their destination. He said the entire fuel ran out somewhere off Lagos Fairway Buoy.

The boat captain expressed gratitude to officers who rescued the boat. "Their action saved the lives of over 400 passengers, including children and women and 14 crew members on board," he said.

He said the crew got in touch with Search and Rescue Centre at the Regional Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Nigeria after several efforts to solicit for help from Cotonou failed.

The leader of the search and rescue team from NIMASA, Eliyasu Bako said his agency immediately alerted the NPA about the situation of the boat to ensure effective collaboration to save the distressed vessel.

A joint rescue team from the two agencies then mobilized to tow the distressed vessel, which lies about 30 nautical miles offshore, to Commodore pool for the ship to restock its much-needed supplies.

The rescue team provided first aid attention to those who needed assistance. The team also provided three tones of bunkers (fuel) and two tonnes of water to the vessel.

"After ascertaining that all the passengers and crew members were medically fit to continue the voyage, the rescue team carried out Flag State inspection of the vessel and confirmed it seaworthy,"

Mr. Bako said: "It was later allowed to sail to Cotonou, her destination."

Recently, officials of NIMASA also facilitated the rescue of another Sao-Tome flagged vessel off the coast of Calabar.

Mr. Bako said that Nigeria, as a signatory to the SOLAS and SAR Conventions, is committed to providing assistance to any distressed vessel in the country's waters.


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