Two of the Police gunboats that were sunk when a ship collided with them in Port Harcourt, Rivers state recently have been salvaged.
The tanker controlled by an Indian national and believed to have been navigating dangerously had hit a Nigeria marine police jetty in Abonnema Wharf in Port Harcourt sinking at least three police gunboats and boats belonging to other parties including the National Inland Waterways Authourity (NIWA.
Two of the Police gunboats that were sunk when a ship collided with them in Port Harcourt, Rivers state recently have been salvaged.
The tanker controlled by an Indian national and believed to have been navigating dangerously had hit a Nigeria marine police jetty in Abonnema Wharf in Port Harcourt sinking at least three police gunboats and boats belonging to other parties including the National Inland Waterways Authourity (NIWA.
This development was confirmed last week by the Port Harcourt ports manager, Mr. Oladele Alabi when members of the newly formed Maritime and Energy Media Practitioners of Nigeria (MEMP) paid him a courtesy visit in Port Harcourt.
Alabi who described the event that led to the capsizing of three police gunboats close to Port Harcourt port as a an accident, disclosed that salvation activities of the sunk boats have commence, and noted that two of the gunboats are already salvaged while efforts continue to salvage others.
Asked on what caused the sinking of police gunboats, Mr. Alabi said that a vessel heading to Abonnema water channel navigated dangerously and caused wave upsurge, that resulted to a strong impact on the boats anchored, forcing them to sink.
Although he emphasized that it is an accident, he added that Port Harcourt ports has paid a visit to the Police, even as he stated that investigations into the matter have commenced.
He said the vessel involved in the accident is a chattered vessel with an Indian Captain, Mr. Dereck Oslo, and a Nigerian pilot Mr. Dickson Otubike.
Mr. Alabi however said that there was no casualty recorded in the incident. He said when investigation is completed; claims for damages by the boat owners will be made.
However, our checks reveal that apart from the three gunboats belonging to Marine Police, that the other two damaged boats belong to NIWA, while three others also damaged are exhibit boats.
A source said that shortly after the accident, the tanker vessels attempted to escape, but was chased and arrested by a marine police team.
Police Public Relations Officer for Rivers police commend Mr. Benjamin Uhuegbulam has since confirmed the incident.
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