By Roland Ekama
Allegedly due to the captain’s negligence on the Larry Mitchelle vessel, a member of the Seafarers’ Branch of the Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN), identified as Edafe Anthony, suffered a severe accident onboard a ship that resulted in the amputation of his leg.
According to Anthony, the incident occurred on Saturday, October 4, 2025, at the jetty in Rivers State.
He was asked by the ship’s captain to retrieve a phone from Artillery. Upon returning, he saw the MV Ajobodo vessel receiving goods and joined his coworkers to assist.
“After completing the task, the crew was preparing to move the boat to prevent it from going aground.
“The captain instructed the engineers to start the engines and ordered the crew to release the ropes securing the ship.”However, the captain allegedly engaged the engine before confirming whether all ropes were released. During this negligent act, a rope trapped Anthony’s leg.
.”Despite the crew shouting for the captain to stop, the engine remained engaged, causing severe injury. Anthony was rushed to the hospital, but his leg had to be amputated due to the severity of the accident,” he narrated.
Meanwhile, the Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has accused the captain and raised concerns about unsafe practices and untrained personnel aboard ships operated by unregistered companies, such as the security board owners.
The union representative stressed that this tragedy should prompt a deeper investigation into maritime safety and company regulations to protect seafarers’ lives.
Similarly, the President of the Seafarers’ Branch, MWUN, Comrade Sunday Avoseh, reiterated that the union has taken medical responsibilities for the affected seafarer but lamented that the ship’s location is unknown at the moment.
Avoseh stated that unprofessionalism led to the tragic accident of Comrade Anthony’ Edafe, adding that safety of the crew onboard any vessel should be paramount.
The Branch President said: “The position of the union is to ensure that we engage the company involved. As we speak, we have yet to identify the owner of the ship or the location of the vessel.
“The vessel has disappeared, and NIMASA is also searching for it. However, the union has sent a representative to the Rivers State Teaching Hospital where the victim is receiving treatment.
“So, the union’s position is to ensure that appropriate compensation is paid to the victim, as stipulated by P&I. MWUN and NIMASA are collaborating to ensure that NJIC engages the company for the compensation to be paid,” Avoseh reiterated.
Attempts by our correspondent to get a response from the ship owners or its agent proved abortive.
