The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has said that over 80% of the wreckage from the recent helicopter crash in the Atlantic Ocean near Bonny Finima, Rivers State, has been successfully recovered.
The helicopter crashed on October 24, 2024, near Bonny Finima, about 1.4 kilometres from the Floating Production Storage Offloading (FPSO) unit NUIM ANTAN, owned by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited.
The recovery efforts, which included retrieval of the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) or “black box,” were achieved through an extensive inter-agency collaboration involving NIMASA, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), NNPC, HydroDive, and additional local and international search and rescue partners.
In a statement issued by its spokesman, Osagie Edward, the agency also announced plans to share findings from the incident with the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
NIMASA’s Director-General, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, praised the swift and coordinated response by government and private agencies involved in the recovery operations. He emphasised that sharing detailed findings with the IMO aligns with Nigeria’s commitment to transparency and adherence to international maritime safety standards.
“In compliance with international maritime protocols, NIMASA will report the incident’s findings to the International Maritime Organization through the Global Integrated Shipping Information System (GISIS). By doing so, we are reaffirming Nigeria’s dedication to accountability and to collaboration within the global maritime community,” he stated.
The GISIS platform, developed by the IMO, facilitates timely reporting and exchange of critical safety information among member states to improve global safety standards, update best practices, and promote international maritime cooperation.
Mobereola further reiterated NIMASA’s commitment to working with all relevant agencies to determine the cause of the crash and to ensure all necessary measures are in place to prevent future occurrences.
“As we continue to investigate, we also take this time to mourn those lost and reaffirm NIMASA’s dedication to the safety of Nigeria’s maritime domain and to strengthening inter-agency partnerships,” he said.
In addition to the black box, items recovered from the Sikorsky SK76 helicopter (registration 5N BQG) included the rotor assembly, three blades, engine, gearbox, windows, cockpit overhead panels, Electronic Locator Transmitter (ELT), and tail. All recovered components are currently secured on a barge.
Mobereola extended NIMASA’s deepest condolences to NNPC, the families of the victims, and all affected by the tragedy.
“Our hearts are with the NNPC and the families who are suffering the loss of their loved ones. Safety remains an absolute priority for NIMASA, and we will continue to uphold our commitment to effective and rapid response during such emergencies in collaboration with the Nigerian Navy and other stakeholders,” he added.
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