Tanker Missing In Gulf of Guine-NIMASA Regional Rescue Centre Clueless
“On Wednesday we alerted local maritime authorities and are exploring all possible options and efforts as we continuously monitor the situation. Whilst we are tirelessly working to locate the vessel, our primary concern is for the 22 crew on board and ensuring their safety,” the company said
Dr. Peterside Dakuku, DG, NIMASA
London-based tanker owner company Union Maritime vessel stated that, MT Barrett, a product tanker which was at anchor off Benin, West Africa has not been heard from since late on Tuesday 9th January.
“On Wednesday we alerted local maritime authorities and are exploring all possible options and efforts as we continuously monitor the situation. Whilst we are tirelessly working to locate the vessel, our primary concern is for the 22 crew on board and ensuring their safety,” the company said
Union Maritime regularly operates from ports in this region and has a rigorous safety and security protocol. Crews are repeatedly drilled in all safety and emergency procedures.
The MT Barrett is a 11999-dwt tanker built 2005 and registered in the Marshall Islands.
Contacted on the missing tanker, officials of NIMASA either feigned ignorance or were truely unaware.
It would be recalled that Nigeria is the host of the Maritime Regional Search and Rescue Coordinating Center, and recently hosted 4th meeting of the Regional Search and Rescue Committee in Lagos Nigeria. In attendance were member states-Equatorial Guinea, Togo, Garbon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo Brazzaville, Benin Republic, Cameroun, Sao Tome & Principe, Nigeria.
