VESSEL COLLISION: THE INVESTIGATIONS THIS TIME
As NIMASA Sets Up Situation Room
Maritime accidents are not uncommon in the global shipping world, what is unusual is the tendency to “secretize” the outcome of investigations and keep Maritime stakeholders in the dark by confining findings from instigations to shelves where dust and inaction are favourite costumes in many organizations.
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has informed the public that on May 20, 2026, at about 1130 hours, a collision occurred between a container vessel, MV MAERSK VALPARAISO, and an oil tanker, MT LADY MARTINA, at the Bonny Inner Anchorage.
According to the agency, the incident occurred around Latitude 4.512375 and Longitude 7.189429, resulting in an oil spill in the affected area.
A statement issued by NIMASA on the incident stated that 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
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“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”
NIMASA further disclosed that 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” the agency said.
Maritime Nigeria can authoritatily confirm that apart from dispatching top officials to incident area, a Situation Monitoring Room to coordinate response efforts and monitor developments arising from the incident has been professionally set up and working to resolve issues arising from the collision and restore operations in the area.
Our reporter gathered that the NIMASA Boss, Dr. Mobereola who was on ground in Rivers State to inaugurate the situation room has 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.
Even as NIMASA assures the public that outcome of investigations into this Onne port collision shall be made public, Maritime stakeholders are sceptical as previous cases are either filed away or remain inconclusive.