Fire Destroys Britania U Drilling Platform at Ajakpa Oil Field, NIMASA Successfully Rescues All 19 Crew Members

On Thursday, July 18, 2024, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) received an emergency alert from the Regional Maritime Rescue Coordinating Center (RMRCC) in Lagos. The alert reported that the Britania U drilling platform was in distress at the Ajakpa Field (OML 90), situated 10.77 nautical miles south of the Forcados Terminal in Delta State, Nigeria.

All nineteen crew members aboard the stricken Britania U platform were successfully evacuated.

NIMASA worked in collaboration with other agencies and first responders to ensure the safe rescue and evacuation of the crew and others at risk during the incident.

Dr. Dayo Mobereola, the Director General of NIMASA, has established an incident command center in the office of the Agency’s Executive Director of Operations. This center is tasked with developing an effective, situation-based response plan to address potential oil spills or other incidents that could impact the marine environment and navigational safety.

Additionally, in accordance with the Merchant Shipping Act of 2007, NIMASA’s Marine Accident Investigation Unit has initiated an investigation to determine both the immediate and underlying causes of this unfortunate event.

The findings of the investigation will be made public, and recommendations will be implemented accordingly.

Image credit: Daily Trend