NIMASA: MAJESTIC RIG OPERATES ILLEGALLY ON NIGERIAN TERRITORIAL WATERS FOR SEVEN YEARS

NIMASA: MAJESTIC RIG OPERATES ILLEGALLY ON NIGERIAN TERRITORIAL WATERS FOR SEVEN YEARS

... IOCs to Establish Level of Spillage

By: Bisi Akingbade

Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA has confirmed that the Majestic Rig belonging to Depthwize Nigeria Limited, which capsized at Ovhor in Warri,  has been operating on Nigerian waters since 2016 without requisite approvals from the Agency.

According to the press release from NIMASA, "the ABS Classed inland Water Drilling 232 feet-long Barge, with a rated drilling depth of 30,000 feet collapsed where it was been towed from N04, 30:34 / E00543:57 enroute Ovhor 21 that belongs to SEPLAT Oil field in Delta State".

NIMASA with the mandate of safe shipping and cleaner oceans said a team comprising of Search and Rescue and marine accident investigation officers have been dispatched to the scene of the incident involving the Majestic Rig belonging to Depthwize Nigeria Limited, which capsized at Ovhor in Warri.

NIMASA has initiated contact with the Clean Nigerian Associate, a conglomerate of all International Oil Companies, IOCs, responsible for the cleaning of Tier 2 oil spill, to establish the level of spillage at the scene of the incident.

In addition, the Agency is in communication with officials of SEPLAT Energy Limited chatterers of the ill-fated Rig who are expected to officially report the incidence within 24 hours in line with the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Act 2007.