Navy Rescues 10 Crew from Sinking Vessel off Calabar Coast
The Nigerian Navy on Friday pulled off another daring sea rescue, saving ten crew members from a sinking vessel, MV SEMA III, off the Calabar coast.
The operation, which involved personnel of Forward Operating Base (FOB) Ibaka who responded promptly to a distress call from the vessel en route from Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, to Calabar, Nigeria.
According to a statement signed by Commodore A. Adams-Aliu, Director of Naval Information, the distress signal was received around 2000 hours, prompting the immediate deployment of a naval gunboat equipped with a submersible pump to the location.
“Upon arrival, the team discovered the vessel taking in water and immediately carried out a swift evacuation of all ten occupants — one Cameroonian, one Equatorial Guinean, and eight Nigerians,” the statement read.
The rescued crew members were safely conveyed to FOB Ibaka, where they were received, debriefed, and given medical attention before being released on Saturday, November 8, 2025.
The Master of MV SEMA III expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Nigerian Navy for its professionalism and timely intervention, describing the response as “the difference between life and death at sea.”
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The successful rescue operation further underscores the Nigerian Navy’s renewed operational efficiency under the leadership of the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas.
In recent months, the Navy has intensified efforts to curb maritime insecurity, illegal bunkering, piracy, and oil theft, while improving surveillance and response mechanisms across its coastal commands. These operations have not only protected seafarers and shipping routes but also enhanced confidence in Nigeria’s blue economy and regional maritime trade.
Commodore Adams-Aliu noted that the Navy’s quick response to distress calls demonstrates its unwavering commitment to “maintaining a safe and secure maritime environment for all legitimate users.”
He added that the service will continue to collaborate with regional partners to strengthen safety protocols and ensure the Gulf of Guinea remains safe for navigation and commerce.
The Nigerian Navy’s intervention off Calabar comes as part of a broader operational strategy combining surveillance, patrols, and emergency response drills — a structure that has saved multiple vessels and lives in recent years.
With this latest success, the Navy reaffirms its resolve that under Vice Admiral Abbas’s watch, no distress call will go unanswered, and no seafarer will be left adrift in Nigerian waters.
