MT Lady Martina Runs Aground After Collision At Bonny Waters; NIMASA Sets Up Situation Room
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has launched an investigation and established a Situation Monitoring Room after a collision yesterday between a Singapore‑flagged container ship and a Nigerian oil tanker that left the tanker aground and caused an oil sheen in the Bonny area.
The agency said the collision occurred on May 20, 2026 at about 11:30 a.m. at Bonny Inner Anchorage (Latitude 4.512375, Longitude 7.189429) when container vessel MV Maersk Valparaiso (IMO 9433054) struck oil products tanker MT Lady Martina (IMO 5104033).
It was gathered that the impact produced an oil spill in the vicinity.
NIMASA’ in a statement on Thursday said Deep Blue Forward Operating Base in Bonny received a distress call at 11:30 a.m. and immediately dispatched interceptor boat DB 214 with 10 armed personnel to the scene.
According to it , five crew members from MT Lady Martina sustained varying injuries and were evacuated to the FOB Bonny sickbay for treatment.
“Following the collision, MT Lady Martina drifted ashore and is currently aground along the Bonny Channel, while MV Maersk Valparaiso remains grounded at the Bonny Inner Anchorage pending damage assessment and further investigation. ”
According to the statement, Maersk has formally reported the incident to NIMASA.
Director General Dayo Mobereola, who attended the inauguration of the Situation Monitoring Room in Rivers State, ordered a full probe into the immediate and root causes of the collision.
He also directed NIMASA’s Marine Environment Management Department to begin an immediate Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and to take steps to mitigate the Tier 1 oil sheen and protect the marine environment.
NIMASA said the Situation Monitoring Room will coordinate response efforts and monitor developments as agencies and responders assess damage, contain the spill and manage salvage and safety operations.