Victor Ezeja
Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Bashir Jamoh, has advised onboard vessel workers to update themselves with required training that complies with Standards of Training Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) in line with the revised Manila Convention.
Dr Jamoh gave the advice while reacting to an incident that almost led to death of some vessel cleaners from a private cleaning company, who developed complications due to insufficient oxygen available in the tank to sustain them.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThey were however, rescued by the NIMASA Deep Blue Team and Safety department officers, following a distress call to the maritime agency’s Director General, Dr Bashir Jamoh.
According to a statement released by Edward Osagie, Assistant Director, Public Relations, NIMASA, “the call, which came to the DG at about 11.30 pm on 2nd February 2023, from the Safety Officer on MT ALIMA reported that while cleaning the tanks of the vessel by a private cleaning company, eight of the cleaners developed complications due to insufficient oxygen available in the tank to sustain them.
“The position (coordinates) of the ship at the time of the call was 06*20.9’’N,003*21.9’’E at the single buoy mooring area in Lagos.”
He said that Dr Jamoh had immediately directed the NIMASA Head of the Deep Blue project and Head of the Maritime Safety Department to deploy one of the fast intervention boats for rescue operations and also directed immediate medical attention to the survivors.
Osagie further stated that the maritime agency took the seven survivors to the military hospital at Ikoyi for medical attention, “where they are presently recovering at various degrees. Five of them are now stable, one has a broken leg and one is still in critical condition.
“While reassuring the maritime community of NIMASA’s ever-ready 24-hour vigilance to respond to distress calls using any of the procured air, land and sea assets, Dr. Jamoh urged operators to be meticulous about basic safety standards at all times.
“The NIMASA boss advised that anyone working on board vessels should update themselves with required training that complies with Standards of Training Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) in line with the revised Manila Convention.
Jamoh thanked the rescue team for the operation and urged them to keep the maritime tradition of round-the-clock watchkeeping and timely response at all times” Osagie said.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
