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The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has launched an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and established a Situation Monitoring Room following a marine collision involving a container vessel, MV Maersk Valparaiso, and an oil tanker, MT Lady Martina, at the Bonny Inner Anchorage in Rivers State.
The incident, which occurred on May 20, 2026, at about 1130 hours around Latitude 4.512375 and Longitude 7.189429, triggered an oil spill in the affected area, prompting an immediate emergency response by the Agency to contain environmental risks and ensure maritime safety.
Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, who was personally on ground in Rivers State to inaugurate the Situation Monitoring Room, directed the Agency’s Marine Environment Management Department to immediately commence an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the affected area.
He also ordered urgent mitigation measures to contain the impact of the Tier 1 oil sheen and safeguard the marine ecosystem.
NIMASA disclosed that the Deep Blue Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Bonny received a distress call at approximately 1130 hours regarding the collision involving MV Maersk Valparaiso, a Singapore-flagged container vessel with IMO No. 9433054, and MT Lady Martina, a Nigerian-flagged oil products tanker with IMO No. 5104033.
In swift response to the emergency, the Base deployed 10 armed personnel onboard DB 214, one of the interceptor boats under the Deep Blue Project, to the scene of the incident to support rescue and security operations.
The Agency further revealed that five crew members onboard MT Lady Martina sustained varying degrees of injuries during the collision and were promptly evacuated to the FOB Bonny sickbay, where they received medical attention.
Following the incident, MT Lady Martina reportedly drifted ashore and is currently aground along the Bonny Channel, while MV Maersk Valparaiso remains grounded at the Bonny Inner Anchorage pending comprehensive damage assessment and further investigations into the incident.
According to NIMASA, the management of MAERSK has formally reported the incident to the Agency, prompting the Director General to order a full-scale investigation into both the immediate and remote causes of the collision.
As part of its coordinated emergency response, the Agency has also activated a Situation Monitoring Room to oversee developments, coordinate response operations, and ensure effective management of the incident and its environmental implications.
NIMASA assured that further updates, including findings from the ongoing investigation and environmental assessment, would be communicated to the public as developments unfold.
The information was contained in a press statement signed by Mr. Osagie Edward, Head of Public Relations at NIMASA.
