PHOTO: First body was discovered on the Atlantic coast in Grand Cape Mount County
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
The rescue state of the operations surrounding the sunken Boat, Niko Ivanka appears to be over, days at the boat sank last Saturday between Marshall and Buchanan, despite officially being prevented from leaving the Freeport of Monrovia.
Grand Cape Mount County Superintendent Aaron Vincent has confirmed that one of staffers of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), who were on board on July 17, 2021 has been discovered dead along the Atlantic Ocean coast at 11:30 am. Two additional bodies have later been discovered from the boat disater, but their identities have so far not been disclosed.
This comes amid mounting concerns as to who gave the greenlight for the departure of a grounded boat to sail to southeastern Liberia, a vessel that was in fact only to carry cargo and not passengers. This has prompted the House of Representatives to summon officials of the various relevant agencies to a hearing before plenary on Friday, July 23, 2021 to shed light circumstances surrounding the boat disaster.
Johnson Wuelleh, age 43 was one of the WAEC staffers among nine of his colleagues who were on their way to administer the WAEC exams slated for this week in southeastern Liberia when the vessel sank on Saturday July 17, 2021.
The late Johnson, was a senior staff at the West African Examination Council.
One WAEC staffer was rescued alive on Saturday night. But a second has been discovered dead while the remaining seven are yet to be discovered.
The late Johnson body was discovered over the Atlantic Ocean by a fisherman at 11:30Am.
According to the fisherman that discovered the body, he said while fishing over the Atlantic Ocean, he saw something like a clothes which drew his attention to rush to the scene.
“When I got to the area I noticed it was someone who has already died, and I tried to get the person out, it was a man,” he explained.
The Kru fisherman said he decided to check whether he could find document to show the identity of the deceased.
He said that he found 650 Liberian dollars and two cell phones in the deceased pocket; took the Sim card from the phone and fortunately the sister of the deceased answered the call.
Earlier this week, eleven persons have been rescued through the search and rescue operation overnight and they are hopeful of recovering everyone and the search is still ongoing commissioner Nagbe narrated.
Some of those rescued by the Liberia National Coast Guard and partners
On Monday July 19, 2021, a 12th survivor, a Chinese national was rescued alive. Therefore, the total missing persons for now are now thirteen with WAEC still having seven more staffers to be discovered.
The Liberia Maritime Authority headed by Lenn Eugene Nagbe in a press conference on July 18, 2021 said the Liberia Coast Guard along with Arcelor Mittal Liberia tugboats and Sea Shepard rescued eleven persons and fifteen still in missing action after a local boat heading to Maryland County sink between Marshall City and little Buchanan.
Commissioner Nagbe addressing the press said on July 17, 2021, at 15:51hrs, it received an alert from the Liberia Coast Guard through its Monrovia Regional Maritime Rescue coordinator center informing about a distress situation on board Niko Ivanka a locally registered vessel trading between the port of Monrovia and Harper owned and operated by HYLAEA Inc.
Mr. Nagbe added that the information received indicates that the vessel departed the Port of Monrovia for Harper on Saturday July 17,2021 at 0600hrs.
He further narrated that the vessel while, underway to Harper about six nautical miles off the Coast of Marshall City, reportedly started to take in water.
The Liberia Maritime Authority boss informed journalists and public that the Liberia Maritime Authority, Ministry of Defense and Armed forces of Liberia (Liberia Coast Guard) mobilized resources including assets and personnel and immediately commenced search and rescue operations to attend to the distressed vessel.
It is important to state that Arcelor Mittal Liberia, Sea Shepard and other partners were immediately contacted to utilize their assets to assist in the search and rescue operation, Mr. Nagbe added.
ArcelorMittal Liberia launched its two tugboats with coast guard personnel on board from the Port of Buchanan to the reported and Marshall City.
The distressed vessel, Niko Ivanka had on board a crew complement of nine persons based on the crew list submitted by the Agent and also nine personnel of the West African Examination Council Monrovia office were on board as passengers.
Furthermore, the Liberia Maritime Authority wishes to state that the subject vessel was detained and not allowed to sail. Also, the vessel was at no time authorized or permitted to carry passengers or operates as a passenger vessel.
The Minister of Education, who also attended the press conference, said that, they are in consultation with WAEC and also praying to discover those still in missing action because nine proctor’s from WAEC was on their way to Maryland and Sinoe Counties to administer the grade three WAEC.
Also attending the press conference was the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Liberia, AFL. Major General Prince C. Johnson explained the technical aspects of their patrol along Grand Cape Mount close to Sierra Leone when they received the sinking of the board.