CALABAR, NIGERIA
The Nigerian Navy demonstrated its rapid response capabilities and commitment to maritime safety by successfully rescuing ten crew members from a distressed vessel off the coast of Calabar last Friday.
Personnel from Forward Operating Base (FOB) IBAKA, acting on a distress call received around 2000 hours on Friday, November 7, 2025, swiftly located the afflicted vessel, MV SEMA III. The vessel was enroute to Calabar from Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, when it began taking in water.
The rescued crew members included eight Nigerians, one Cameroonian, and one Equatorial Guinean.
According to a statement released by Commodore A Adams-Aliu, the Director of Information, a naval gunboat equipped with a submersible pump was immediately dispatched to the scene. The team found the MV SEMA III actively taking in water and promptly evacuated all occupants. The crew members were subsequently received, debriefed, and catered for at FOB IBAKA until Saturday, November 8, 2025.
The Master of MV SEMA III conveyed his “heartfelt gratitude” to the Nigerian Navy for the timely intervention and “exceptional professionalism.” The successful operation, as noted by Commodore Adams-Aliu, underscores the Nigerian Navy’s renewed dedication under the leadership of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas (Admiralty Medal). This effort is aimed at ensuring maritime safety, protecting critical national assets, and promoting lawful economic activities within Nigeria’s maritime domain
