Nigerian Navy Rescues 10 Crew Members After Vessel Nearly Sinks on High Sea

The Nigerian Navy has rescued ten crew members from a vessel that was on the verge of sinking while sailing from Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, to Calabar, Cross River State.

Director of Naval Information, Commodore Ayiwuyor Adams-Aliu, confirmed the operation in a statement on Monday, saying the quick response demonstrated the Navy’s commitment to maritime safety and saving lives at sea.

According to Adams-Aliu, the rescue was executed by personnel of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Ibaka in Akwa Ibom State after receiving a distress call on Friday around 8:00 p.m.

“Acting on a distress call received around 2000 hours, a naval gunboat equipped with a submersible pump was immediately deployed,” he said.

When the team arrived at the scene, they discovered the vessel — identified as MV SEMA III — rapidly taking in water. All ten crew members, including one Cameroonian, one Equatorial Guinean, and eight Nigerians, were successfully evacuated and brought safely to shore.

The rescued seafarers were later received, debriefed, and cared for at the naval base in Ibaka until Saturday.

“The Master of MV SEMA III expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Nigerian Navy for its timely intervention and exceptional professionalism,” Adams-Aliu added.

He noted that the successful operation reinforces the Navy’s renewed drive to ensure maritime safety, protect national assets, and promote legitimate economic activities within Nigeria’s territorial waters.

The rescue highlights the Nigerian Navy’s increasing vigilance and readiness in combating threats and responding swiftly to emergencies across the Gulf of Guinea, a region notorious for piracy and maritime distress incidents.