In response to the report that the Nigeria LNG Limited’s (NLNG) failed to respond to a recent distress call by a trawler 45 Kilometres SW of Bonny Fairway Buoy, the gas company has explained the role it played on receiving the distress call.
A statement by Andy Odeh, manager, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs of the NLNG, sent to BusinessDay on Wednesday, stated that on receiving the call at around 21:07hrs on February 6, 2019, it responded by dispatching a long range security boat to the location.
“On getting there, the crew of the long range boat found other sister vessels engaged in rescuing the crew of a distressed trawler, MV Orc IV. The boat returned to base after confirming that the trawler boat crew had been rescued by sister vessels,” the statement said.
It reads: “At 13:20hrs on February 7, 2019, after reports of a fishing boat on fire in the same location, NLNG sent a tug boat with firefighting capabilities and two security boats. The tugboat put out the fire and the crew of the security boats doused small fires in the fish hold.
According to Odeh, the move was in line with one of NLNG core values of caring, for people and the environment to enhance safety and sustainability through partnership with relevant agencies.
Odeh further disclosed that NLNG was recognised with “The Best Caring Company” award by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) for its outstanding contributions to the realisation of the agency’s mandate on safety on the waterways, especially the Bonny-Port Harcourt sea route which borders our area of operation in Rivers State.
At the event, NIMASA commended NLNG for the rescue of 12 victims involved in a boat mishap on the Bonny Sea in 19 November2018.
AMAKA ANAGOR-EWUZIE
