Juliana Francis
The Nigerian Navy today Monday 7 November 2022, said its Ship, ‘BEECROFT,’ has rescued 10 crew members from a fishing trawler christened OLOKUN XII which capsized within the Lagos channel in the early hours of 7 November 2022.
The Commander, Command Information Officer, Western Naval Command, Edward Yeibo, in a statement, said the capsized trawler OLOKUN XII was being towed by its sister trawler OLOKUN IV within the Lagos channel when the vessel collided with a merchant vessel MSC CORUNA, leading to the capsize of the Fishing Trawler OLOKUN XII.
He added: “Fortunately, the NNS BEECROFT patrol team were on routine patrol which led to the prompt rescue of 10 crew members from the trawler. After that, the rescued crew were handed over to the company’s officials, named Barnaly Fishing Company Limited.”
While commiserating with the Fishing Company on the sad incident, the Commander Nigerian Navy Ship BEECROFT, Commodore Malami Haruna used the opportunity to urge sea-farers to navigate with caution and give due consideration to the international regulation for prevention of collision when transiting within the nation’s maritime domain.
He further stressed the commitment of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo (CFR), towards ensuring the security of all seafarers within Nigeria’s maritime space.