PHOTO: Maritime Commissioner Nagbe
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
At least 15 passengers are missing and eleven have been rescued from a sinking boat in Liberian coastal waters, the Liberia Maritime Authority disclosed on Sunday, July 18, 2021.
Maritime Commissioner, Lenn Eugene Nagbe told a news conference Sunday morning that the Liberia National Coast Guard along with ArcelorMittal Liberia tugboats have rescued eleven persons and up to 17 others are still in missing action, after a local boat heading to Maryland County sank between Marshall City and little Buchanan.
Commissioner Nagbe said on July 17, 2021 at 15:51hrs, the Maritime Authorty, received an alert from the Liberia Coast Guard through its Monrovia Regional Maritime Rescue coordinator center, informing it about a distress situation on board Niko Ivanka. This is 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 said that while sailing to Harper about six nautical miles off the Coast of Marshall City, the vessel reportedly started to take in water.
The 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.
ArcelorMittal Liberia, Sea Shepard and other partners were immediately contacted to utilize their assets to assist in the search and rescue operation, Mr. Nagbe added.
Arcelor Mittal 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.
The Liberia Maritime Authority has stated that the vessel involved in the incident 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 Justice Ministry is said to be investigating the issue.
WAEC exam proctors on board
Nine proctors from the West African Examination Council (WAEC) Monrovia office were said to be on their way to Maryland and Sinoe Counties to administer the grade three WAEC.
Education Minister, Prof. Ansu Sonii, 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
Also attending was the Chief of Staff of the AFL, Major General Prince C. Johnson. He and head of the Coast Guard explained the technical aspects of their patrol along Grand Cape Mount close to Sierra Leone when they received the sinking of the board.
Maryland County senator Blebo Brown said this is not the first of such incident, recalling a similar incident in 2010, when there was a loss of lives, urging for prayers for family members whose relatives are still missing.