EASTERN NAVAL COMMAND RESCUES 20 CREW AS FIRE GUTS COMMERCIAL VESSEL IN CALABAR CHANNEL

The Eastern Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy has successfully rescued 20 crew members from a fire-engulfed commercial vessel along the Calabar Channel, in a rapid response operation that underscored the Service’s operational readiness and humanitarian mandate.

The rescue, carried out on Monday, 22nd December 2025, followed a distress call received at about 1:00 p.m. from Motor Vessel CHIMBA EXPRESS, which caught fire while en-route Calabar from Gabon. The vessel was conveying scrap materials and logistics and had 21 persons on board, comprising 14 Nigerians and seven Cameroonians.

Acting under the operational directives of the Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral CD Okehie, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) OSE, deployed from the Eastern Fleet on routine patrol, was immediately redirected to the scene.
On arrival, naval personnel encountered thick smoke billowing from the vessel. A coordinated rescue operation was swiftly launched, with officers and ratings evacuating crew members who had abandoned ship as well as others stranded on the weather deck. Twenty crew members were safely recovered and administered first aid on site.

The vessel’s Chief Engineer, who reportedly jumped into the water amid fears of an explosion, remains missing. A comprehensive search and rescue operation is ongoing.
Naval intervention also proved critical in containing the blaze. Firefighting efforts restricted the fire to the midship and aft sections of the vessel, preventing it from spreading to the forecastle where combustible materials and logistics were stored. The timely deployment of naval assets is believed to have averted a potentially catastrophic incident.

The operation drew support from multiple Nigerian Navy units across the Eastern axis, working in synergy with local fishermen, an effort that highlighted effective civil-military coordination in maritime emergency response.

Speaking on behalf of the Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship VICTORY, the Base Operations Officer, Lieutenant Commander KK Ahunanya, commended the gallantry and professionalism of the officers and men involved. He reaffirmed the Nigerian Navy’s commitment to maritime safety, security and the protection of lives and property within Nigeria’s maritime domain, in line with the vision of the Chief of the Naval Staff and the operational leadership of Rear Admiral Okehie.
The successful rescue reinforces the Eastern Naval Command’s reputation for responsiveness and professionalism, while strengthening public confidence in the Navy’s capacity to safeguard Nigeria’s waterways.