Chukwu Obinna 
MV SEMA III Rescue Crew Members (Photo credit: Navy)
ABUJA, Nigeria – The Nigerian Navy has rescued 10 crew members from a distressed merchant vessel, MV SEMA III, which encountered flooding while sailing from Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, to Calabar.
In a statement on Monday, the Director of Naval Information, Commodore Ayiwuyor Adams-Aliu, said personnel of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) IBAKA responded swiftly after receiving a distress call around 2000 hours on Friday.
A naval gunboat equipped with a submersible pump was dispatched to the vessel, where the crew was promptly evacuated to safety. The rescued individuals included one Cameroonian, one Equatorial Guinean and eight Nigerians.
“The Master of MV SEMA III expressed deep appreciation for the Navy’s timely intervention and exceptional professionalism,” Adams-Aliu said.
He added that the successful operation highlights the Navy’s strengthened maritime security capacity and its commitment to saving lives and safeguarding commercial waterways.
The rescued crew members were debriefed and accommodated at FOB IBAKA until Saturday before being cleared for onward transfer.
The rescue comes amid broader reforms within the Navy following the recent redeployment of 65 senior officers across commands to enhance maritime oversight and operational readiness.
Security analysts note that increased rapid response capability is critical to protecting maritime trade routes in the Gulf of Guinea.
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