The Nigerian Navy has rescued 20 crew members from the motor vessel Chimba Express after a fire broke out onboard near the entrance of the Calabar Channel, close to Ibaka.
Lieutenant Commander Kelechi Ahunanya Base Operations Officer of NNS Victory, said the Navy received a distress call from the vessel reporting the fire around 1:00 p.m. December 22 ,2025.
The base immediately deployed its gunboats and vectored Nigerian Navy Ship Ose to the scene to provide assistance.
Naval assets arrived at the site within 25 to 30 minutes of receiving the call.
Upon arrival, the Navy successfully rescued 20 crew members. Unfortunately, one crew member jumped overboard before the Navy ship reached the vessel.
A search party has been deployed to locate the missing seafarer, with operations ongoing to bring him to safety.
Preliminary investigations suggest the fire was caused by an electrical fault, likely originating from an appliance in the engine room. Lieutenant Commander Ahunanya noted that the swift response highlights the Navy’s commitment to maritime safety and emergency response.
He recalled a similar rescue by the Forward Operating Base, Ibaka, which underscores the Nigerian Navy’s continuous efforts to protect lives at sea and secure Nigerian waterways in line with the strategic objectives of the Chief of Naval Staff.
One of the rescued crew members, Sully Jean-Blaise, who serves as the second captain of the vessel, said the fire started around 12:45 p.m., adding that the Navy gunboat worked closely with the crew to bring the situation under control.
The rescued crew members are being taken to the Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital for medical evaluation before being handed over to the Nigerian Ports Authority to reunite with their families.
Meanwhile, a security boat has been stationed at the site to guard the remains of the vessel at sea pending evacuation.
Lieutenant Commander Ahunanya reassured residents, particularly those in Cross River State, that the Nigerian Navy remains ready to respond to emergencies at any time and anywhere within its operational reach, emphasizing its ongoing commitment to ensuring the safety of seafarers.
