NIMASA Deploys Safety Professionals Onboard Shell Owned FPSO Sinking Offshore Nigerian Waters

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) on Monday moved to save a Shell owned FPSO, Sea Eagle, which started taking in water on Sunday, 24th of July, 2022.

In a post on social media on Tuesday evening, the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh explained that as at Monday, 25th of July, the situation is deemed stable although sensitive, and the agency is monitoring the ship for further action.

According to the DG NIMASA, “It has come to our attention at NIMASA of a developing situation on the Nigerian-flagged FPSO Sea Eagle, owned by Shell.

“Currently offshore Nigerian waters, the FPSO began taking in water on Sunday 24th of July.

NIMASA received a call from the Incident Manager appraising the agency of the situation in compliance with the Merchant Shipping Act and in line with the operators reporting obligation to the Maritime Administration of such an emergency.

“The measure so far taken are: Carried out remedial repairs to reduce the level of ingress and to improve buoyancy; Called for emergency tanker update of the crude onboard and ballast control to tighten her up; additionally reduced Person on Board (PoB), especially non-essentials. There is a need to carry out complete repairs.

“As at 1pm Monday afternoon, ingress had reduced and they are still in control. The evolving situation is deemed stable but sensitive.

“However, as a proactive measure and in line with our maritime administration function, we have deployed our team comprising of safety casualty, marine investigation and marine environment management professionals to the location for further assessment of the situation and real-time management in line with our mandate and obligation to ensure the safety of lives at sea and the protection of the marine environment from possible pollution.

“More updates will follow soon.”