The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, in tandem with officials of Total Energies EP Nigeria limited rescued occupants of a distressed São Tomé Príncipe fishing vessel which was adrift in the Atlantic Ocean for 11 days.
A rescue team from Total Energies Nigeria Limited on noticing a distressed vessel at sea around Offshore Operational Field, OML 100, immediately sent signals of the situation to the Regional Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, RMRCC, located in NIMASA.
In line with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Safety of Lives at Sea (SOLAS) protocol, the Total team promptly initiated a rescue operation and immediately handed over the occupants of the distressed vessel to NIMASA, while the boat was anchored at OSHE HONMI (OML 100).
While NIMASA’s Search and Rescue SARS clinic provided first aid and comprehensive medical attention to the distressed passenger who speaks only Portuguese. He was later handed over to the Nigerian Immigration Service for ultimate return to his country.
“We will continue to prioritise safety of lives and property in the maritime sector, while also embracing collaboration as a tool to actualizing our mandate.” said the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh. He applauded the cooperation between NIMASA and Total Energies for the swift response, noting that safety of the maritime sector is cardinal to the heart of the current leadership of the Agency, which forms part of the three-point Agenda.
“Safety is everyone’s business, hence we must continue to preach safety in the day-to-day affairs of the Nigerian maritime sector.
Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention is an IMO Convention, ratified by Nigeria, with NIMASA as the implementing body. And recently, NIMASA acquired five enforcement vessels to enhance its Flag, Port state and Search and Rescue operations