Five Injured As Two Vessels Collide At Onne Port

No fewer than five crew members sustained injuries after a container vessel, MV MAERSK VALPARAISO, collided with an oil tanker, MT LADY MARTINA, at the Bonny Inner Anchorage near Onne Port in Rivers State.

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) disclosed that the incident occurred on May 20, 2026, at about 11:30 a.m., leading to an oil spill within the affected area.

According to the Agency, the Deep Blue Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Bonny received a distress call immediately after the collision involving the Singapore-flagged container vessel, MV Valparaiso, and the Nigerian-flagged oil products tanker, MT Lady Martina.

NIMASA said it swiftly deployed 10 armed personnel onboard one of its Deep Blue Project interceptor boats, DB 214, to the scene for emergency response operations.

The Agency confirmed that the five injured crew members onboard MT Lady Martina were evacuated to the FOB Bonny sickbay, where they received medical attention.

Following the impact, MT Lady Martina drifted ashore and ran aground along the Bonny Channel, while MV Valparaiso also remained grounded at the Bonny Inner Anchorage pending further assessment.

NIMASA added that the management of MAERSK officially reported the incident to the Agency, prompting the Director-General of NIMASA, Dayo Mobereola, to order a full investigation into the immediate and remote causes of the collision.

The Agency also established a Situation Monitoring Room to coordinate emergency response efforts and monitor developments arising from the accident.

Mobereola, who was personally in Rivers State to inaugurate the monitoring room, further directed NIMASA’s Marine Environment Management Department to commence an Environmental Impact Assessment of the affected area and initiate measures to contain the Tier 1 oil sheen and protect the marine ecosystem.

NIMASA assured that further updates and findings from the investigation would be made public as events unfold.