Navy Rescues 10 Crew Members from Sinking Vessel off Calabar
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
The Nigerian Navy has rescued 10 crew members from a distressed vessel, MV SEMA III, which was en route to Calabar from Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.
According to a statement on Monday by the Navy’s Director of Information, Commodore A. Adams-Aliu, the incident occurred on Friday, November 7, 2025, when personnel of the Forward Operating Base, IBAKA, responded to a distress call from the vessel around 8pm.
Adams-Aliu said a naval gunboat fitted with a submersible pump was immediately deployed to the scene.
“Upon arrival, the naval team found the vessel taking in water and swiftly evacuated all 10 occupants, comprising one Cameroonian, one Equatorial Guinean, and eight Nigerians,” he noted.
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The spokesperson added that the rescued crew members were taken to FOB IBAKA, where they were received, debriefed, and cared for until Saturday, November 8, 2025.
“The Master of MV SEMA III expressed deep gratitude to the Nigerian Navy for the timely intervention and exceptional professionalism of its personnel,” the statement read.
Adams-Aliu noted that the rescue operation underscores the Navy’s renewed commitment under the leadership of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas (Admiralty Medal), to ensuring maritime safety, protecting critical national assets, and promoting lawful economic activities within Nigeria’s maritime domain.
