By Suleiman Anyalewechi
The Nigerian Navy on Tuesday December 23, 2025, announced the rescue of no fewer than 20 crew members aboard one of its vessels which was gutted by fire along the Calabar Channel.
But the Chief Engineer who was said to have jumped overboard out of fear of being engulfed by the raging inferno is, however, said to be still missing.
A statement from the Base Operations Officer in Calabar, Lt. Commander Kelechi Ahunaya, informed that the ill-fated vessel, a Motor Vessel MV Chimba Express enroute from Gabon to Calabar was carrying 21 persons, including 14 Nigerians ,and seven Cameroonians as at the time of the incident.
According to him, 20 persons were rescued, while one person – the Chief Engineer of the Vessel is still unaccounted for.
The Vessel was said to be laden with scrap materials and other logistical items.
The intervention of the Naval Base ,Ahunanya noted followed the receipt of a distress call at about 13 hours on Monday.
“On arrival, a thick smoke was observed emanating from the Vessel, prompting immediate rescue operations.
“Crew members who had abandoned ship, as well as those stranded on deck, were rescued using life buoys. Twenty crew members were successfully rescued and administered first aid”, he added.
The Base Operations Commander, however, assured that the Base in concert with personnel from Forward Operating Base ,IBAKA ,and Navy Security Station 030 House boat have intensified efforts to locate and rescue the missing chief engineer who he said jumped overboard owing to fear of an explosion.
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