A catastrophic fire erupted on a drilling platform owned and operated by Brittania-U, a leading indigenous oil exploration and production company in Nigeria, on Thursday. The incident occurred approximately 10.77 nautical miles south of Forcadoes Terminal in Delta State, a key oil-producing region in the country.
According to a statement released by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the agency’s Regional Maritime Rescue Coordinating Center (RMRCC) in Lagos received distress signals from the platform while it was in distress at the Ajakpa Field (OML 90). The RMRCC promptly responded to the emergency, triggering a swift rescue operation.
Fortunately, all 19 crew members on board the ill-fated platform were rescued successfully, thanks to the prompt and coordinated response of NIMASA and other responding agencies. The agency worked closely with first responders to ensure the safe evacuation of the crew and other exposed individuals during the incident.
In response to the incident, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, Director General of NIMASA, has established an incident command center in the office of the agency’s Executive Director Operations. This center will develop an effective situation-based response plan to mitigate potential oil spillage or other incidents affecting the marine environment and navigation safety.
Furthermore, NIMASA’s Marine Accident Investigation Unit has launched a comprehensive investigation into the direct and remote causes of this unfortunate incident. This investigation is mandated under the Merchant Shipping Act 2007, and its findings will be published. Recommendations arising from the investigation will be implemented to prevent similar incidents in the future.
