By Onwe Wisdom| Pan Afric Reporters
The Nigerian Navy has rescued 20 crew members from a burning merchant vessel, MV Chimba Express, following a fire incident along the Calabar waterways in Cross River State.
The dramatic rescue according to a press release signed by the Director of Naval Information, Commodore A. Adams-Aliu took place on Monday, December 22, 2025, after personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) OSE, while on routine sea patrol, received a distress call from the endangered vessel at about 1:00 p.m.
According to the Navy, upon arrival at the scene, its personnel discovered that the fire had forced some crew members to jump into the water, while others were trapped on the vessel’s exposed deck.
“On arrival at the scene, it was observed that some crew members had jumped overboard while others were stranded on the exposed deck,” the press release stated.
In a swift and coordinated response, naval personnel drawn from NNS OSE, Naval Security Station 030, and Forward Operating Base (FOB) Ibaka carried out the rescue operation, successfully saving 20 crew members from the burning vessel.
“Through a coordinated effort of NN personnel from NNS OSE, Naval Security Station 030 and Forward Operating Base IBAKA, 20 crew members were rescued,” the Navy confirmed.
However, one crew member identified as the Chief Engineer remains unaccounted for. The Navy disclosed that there were 21 persons onboard the vessel at the time of the incident and that search-and-rescue efforts were ongoing to locate the missing officer.
“While concerted efforts are ongoing to locate the missing Chief Engineer, it has been confirmed that there were only 21 persons onboard MV Chimba Express,” the statement added.
The Nigerian Navy said the successful rescue operation reflects the strategic vision and leadership of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas (Admiralty Medal), whose focus is on strengthening maritime safety and security.
“The successful rescue of 20 persons underscores the visionary leadership and strategic direction of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, whose vision is to develop a modern, agile and professional naval force dedicated to securing Nigeria’s maritime domain,” the release noted.
The Navy urged the media to disseminate the information to the general public as part of its commitment to transparency and public awareness.
