Joyce Mmereole Okoli
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency has launched an emergency response and full investigation following a vessel collision on Monday that triggered an oil spill and left five crew members injured in the Bonny Channel.
The incident occurred at about 1130 hours on May 20, 2026, when a container vessel, MV MAERSK VALPARAISO, collided with an oil tanker, MT LADY MARTINA, at the Bonny Inner Anchorage, around Latitude 4.512375 and Longitude 7.189429.
A distress call reached the Deep Blue Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Bonny shortly after the crash. In response, the Base deployed 10 armed personnel aboard DB 214, one of the interceptor boats under the Deep Blue Project, to secure the scene and begin rescue operations.
Five crew members aboard MT Lady Martina sustained varying degrees of injury and were promptly evacuated to the FOB Bonny sickbay for medical treatment.
The collision caused an oil spill, even as MT Lady Martina later drifted ashore and became aground along the Bonny Channel.
MV Maersk Valparaiso also remains grounded at the Bonny Inner Anchorage pending further technical assessment.
The management of [MAERSK](https://www.maersk.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com) has formally reported the incident to NIMASA.
Following the report, the Director General of NIMASA, Dayo Mobereola, ordered a comprehensive investigation into both the immediate and remote causes of the accident.
To coordinate rapid response efforts, NIMASA activated a Situation Monitoring Room, which Dr. Mobereola personally inaugurated in Rivers State. He also directed the Agency’s Marine Environment Management Department to begin an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the affected area and initiate urgent mitigation measures to contain the Tier 1 oil sheen and safeguard the marine environment.
NIMASA says updates on the situation and findings from its investigation will be released to the public as developments unfold.