Nigerian Navy rescues 20 crew members from burning vessel in Calabar

The Nigerian Navy has successfully rescued 20 crew members from a cargo vessel, Motor Vessel Chimba Express, after it caught fire along the Calabar waterways.

The dramatic rescue occurred on Monday, December 22, 2025, when personnel aboard the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) OSE received a distress alert during a routine patrol in the area.

Confirming the incident on Tuesday, the Director of Naval Public Relations, Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, said the naval team moved into action around 1:00 p.m. after receiving reports of a fire outbreak onboard the vessel.

He explained that the operation was carried out swiftly and in a coordinated manner, ensuring that all 20 crew members were safely rescued without loss of life.

According to him, upon arrival at the scene, naval personnel observed that some crew members had jumped into the water to escape the flames, while others were trapped on the exposed deck of the vessel.

He said a coordinated rescue effort involving personnel from NNS OSE, Naval Security Station 030, and Forward Operating Base (FOB) Ibaka led to the successful rescue of 20 crew members.

Adams-Aliu disclosed that there were 21 persons onboard the vessel at the time of the incident, adding that search and rescue operations were ongoing to locate the remaining crew member, identified as the Chief Engineer.

He noted that the successful operation underscored the Nigerian Navy’s commitment to maritime safety and security, as well as the strategic leadership of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas.

According to him, the Chief of the Naval Staff’s vision remains focused on building a modern, agile, and professional naval force capable of effectively securing Nigeria’s maritime domain.

Efforts to determine the cause of the fire incident are ongoing.