Navy Rescues Cameroonian Fishing Vessel One-Month After Declared Missing

Rescued vessel

The Nigerian Navy (NN) said that it has successfully rescued a Cameroonian fishing vessel one month after it drifted off course and was declared ‘missing’.

The force said it was contacted on November 1, 2023 by the Cameroonian authority that their Flagged Motor Fishing Vessel AFKI (MFV AFRKI) with registration number UK12 and IMO number AFKI 8432780 had drifted off her course for four weeks and needed assistance.

Director of Naval information, Commodore Adedotun Ayo-Vanghan said upon the receipt of the information, NNS Dorina and crew swung into action and started the search and rescue operation.      
He said:”Available information from a Note Verbale issued by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands revealed that the incident occurred on October 24, 2023, when MFV AFKI was en-route from Banjul in Gambia to the Congo Kinshasa for delivery of the vessel. While in transit, the vessel suffered depleted fuel to her propulsion engines which resulted in its drifting off the coast of Sao Tome and Principe into Nigeria’s Exclusive Economic zone. Unfortunately, all efforts by the vessel owners to trace its location for possible rescue proved abortive.”

However, he said further surveillance revealed that the last known location of the vessel was at about 72 nautical miles from the Nigerian coast. Consequently, he explained that the Navy swiftly deployed its Ship (NNS) DORINA- the Maritime Domain Awareness facilities for Search and Rescue Operation (SAR).

According to him, on November 17, 2023 at about 2000 hours, after frantic surveillance by the deployed NN platform, NNS DORINA traced and contacted the vessel 17 nautical miles off Pennington terminal.

He said upon rescuing the vessel, two foreign crew members were confirmed on board while due diligence was made by NNS-DORINA Boarding Party to ascertain the status of the vessel and her involvement in any untoward activities.

Ayo-Vanghan further said: “It was, however, discovered that the vessel actually had no incriminating items onboard. Thereafter, NNS DORINA towed MFV AFKI with the assistance of NNS IKENNE to Escravos, Delta State where NN Forward Operating Base ESCRAVOS took custody of the Fishing Vessel for further administrative procedures in preparation to hand over the vessel to the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. MFV AFKI had thus been adrift for almost One month before the NN rescued it.”

The NN reassured seafarers and other maritime operators of its commitments to collaborate with local and strategic partners and allies to ensure the safety and security of vessels as well as crew members who carry out legitimate businesses in or transit the Nigerian maritime environment.

He added: “The deployment of NN platforms in the Search and Rescue of the Cameroonian registered fishing vessel, MFV AFKI is in line with the NN’s statutory role for Safety of Life at Sea, SAR and also in line with the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla’s Command Philosophy which is to lead the NN with integrity, courage and relentless pursuit for excellence through team work, discipline and human capacity building, whilst upholding highest standard and professionalism, ethics and respect for human right.”

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