LAGOS, NIGERIA. Seven distressed workers have been saved by the prompt response of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) following a distress call to the Director General, Dr. Bashir Jamoh OFR.

The Safety Officer on board MT ALIMA had reportedly called for help upon realising that eight cleaners working on the vessel’s tanks had developed health complications at about 11.30 pm on February 2, 2023.

“While cleaning the tanks of the vessel by a private cleaning company, 8 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.

“Dr. Jamoh 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”, NIMASA’s statement read.

The media learnt seven survivors were taken to the military hospital at Ikoyi and are recuperating. While five of them are said to be stable, one has a broken leg and another is still in critical condition.

Dr. Jamoh urged operators to be meticulous about basic safety standards and compliant with Standards of Training Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) in line with the revised Manila Convention.