By Nkechi Eze
The Nigerian Navy has once again demonstrated its rapid response capability and unwavering commitment to maritime safety, following the rescue of ten crew members from a distressed vessel, MV SEMA III, off the Calabar waters on Friday, November 7, 2025.
According to an official statement signed by the Director of Naval Information, Commodore Adams Aliu, personnel of Forward Operating Base (FOB) Ibaka sprang into action after receiving a distress call from the vessel around 2000 hours. The vessel, which was en route Calabar from Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, was reportedly taking in water when the alert reached the Navy.
A naval gunboat equipped with a submersible pump was immediately deployed to the scene. Upon arrival, the rescue team swiftly evacuated all ten crew members, comprising one Cameroonian, one Equatorial Guinean, and eight Nigerians. The survivors were safely transported to FOB Ibaka, where they were received, debriefed, and provided with necessary care until Saturday, November 8, 2025.
Commodore Aliu noted that the Master of MV SEMA III expressed profound appreciation to the Nigerian Navy for its timely intervention, commending the personnel for their professionalism and efficiency in averting a potential maritime tragedy.
The operation, according to the statement, highlights the Navy’s ongoing efforts under the leadership of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas (Admiralty Medal), to enhance safety within Nigeria’s maritime environment. It also reaffirms the service’s broader mandate to protect critical national assets and promote lawful economic activities within the nation’s territorial waters.
Through such prompt and coordinated responses, the Nigerian Navy continues to reinforce confidence in its operational readiness and humanitarian role, ensuring that Nigeria’s maritime domain remains safe for navigation and commercial ventures.
