The Nigerian Navy and the Nigeria Police Force have refuted reports that the Bonny Channel was blocked to maritime traffic following a collision between the container vessel MV Maersk Valparaiso and the oil tanker MT Lady Martina. The incident occurred on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, near the Federal Ocean Terminal in Onne, Rivers State, and reportedly caused an oil spill in the affected area.
Official Denials
Reacting to claims that the channel had been shut down, the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base (FOB) Bonny and the Marine component of the Nigeria Police Force described the allegations as false and misleading. In a statement, FOB Bonny clarified that maritime activities along the Bonny Channel, Bonny Anchorage, and Bonny River remained uninterrupted despite the accident. The Navy stated that information from its operational assets confirmed that no blockade existed as a result of the collision. According to the statement, vessels continue to transit the channel without interference, and maritime operators and commuters were assured of safe passage through the waterway.
Marine Police Response
The Marine Police also denied receiving any report indicating obstruction of maritime movement within the channel. The police disclosed that the State Crime Officer had visited the scene of the collision and returned to headquarters, while investigations into the incident continue. The Bonny Channel, also known as the Bonny River Channel and Anchorage, is a critical maritime route in southern Nigeria, widely used by vessels awaiting docking clearance, port pilots, or cargo-loading operations within the eastern axis of the Niger Delta.
NIMASA Investigation
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has launched a full-scale investigation into the accident. NIMASA confirmed that the collision involved MV Maersk Valparaiso, a Singapore-flagged container vessel with IMO No. 9433054, and MT Lady Martina, a Nigerian-flagged oil products tanker with IMO No. 5104033. The agency disclosed that the Deep Blue Operating Base in Bonny received a distress call at about 11:30 a.m. on the day of the incident and swiftly deployed 10 armed personnel aboard interceptor boat DB 214 under the Deep Blue Project to the scene.
Injuries and Grounding
Five crew members aboard MT Lady Martina reportedly sustained injuries and were evacuated to the FOB Bonny sickbay for treatment. Authorities further revealed that MT Lady Martina drifted ashore after the collision and is currently grounded along the Bonny Channel, while MV Maersk Valparaiso remains grounded at the Bonny Inner Anchorage pending damage assessment and completion of investigations. Management of Maersk has officially reported the incident to NIMASA.
Emergency Response
Consequently, the Director-General of NIMASA, Dayo Mobereola, ordered a comprehensive investigation into both the immediate and remote causes of the collision. Mobereola also inaugurated a Situation Monitoring Room in Rivers State to coordinate emergency response efforts and monitor developments arising from the incident. In addition, NIMASA directed its Marine Environment Management Department to immediately commence an Environmental Impact Assessment of the affected area while taking steps to mitigate the impact of the Tier 1 oil sheen caused by the spill. The agency assured the public that findings from the investigation would be made available upon completion, while reiterating its commitment to protecting Nigeria’s marine environment and ensuring navigational safety within the nation’s waterways.
