19th November, 2015
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) says it is investigating an accident involving two sea-going vessels – MT Tank and MT Elixir.
The agency also said that it had started working on the liability resulting from the collision, which occurred on Monday about 65 miles from shore, just 10 nautical miles South West of the Bonga Floating Production Supply and Off-loading Facility (FPSO) near Warri in Delta.
Mr Calistus Obi, NIMASA’s Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Thursday.
“When an accident particularly an international sea-going vessel is involved in accident, there are basic fundamental procedures and rules that must be followed based on IMO (International Maritime Organisation) position.
“So all of that NIMASA did before they allowed the vessel to sail but that has not stopped anything from being done as relates to the claims of all the parties involved. Unfortunately people died; so what we will be talking about is the extent of liability of the vessel that was the cause of the accident.
“So, it is all about investigation and you do not keep a vessel while you are investigating because the maritime authority of the country involved, where the vessel was registered has undertaken. So, at the end of it all, somebody must be held responsible for it.
“The vessel owner must bear responsibility for it. Of course, we have allowed them to sail because it has not in any way impeded NIMASA’s role in all of that.`
MT Tank, a Nigerian vessel, was wrecked following the collision, leading to the death of some passengers on it.
MT Elixir is a foreign vessel