The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) announced on Sunday that findings from the SK76 helicopter crash into the Atlantic Ocean near Bonny Finima will be shared with the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
The announcement follows the recent recovery of the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), commonly known as the black box, through a collaborative effort involving NIMASA, the Nigerian Navy, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), NNPC, HydroDive, and other local and international search and rescue partners.
The Sikorsky SK76 helicopter, en-route FPSO NUIMS ANTAN, crashed on October 24, 2024, resulting in the loss of all passengers on board.
The NSIB had confirmed that no debris, survivors, or bodies were initially recovered.
Speaking on the findings following a series of investigations, NIMASA’s Director General, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, disclosed that reporting the crash findings aligns with international maritime safety standards and will be conducted through the IMO’s Global Integrated Shipping Information System (GISIS).
The IMO GISIS is a platform that is supporting the timely and accurate reporting of incidents and essential maritime data.
“In line with international maritime safety standards, NIMASA will report the findings about the helicopter crash into the Atlantic Ocean to the IMO via GISIS.
“By sharing the findings of the offshore Port Harcourt helicopter crash with the IMO, we at NIMASA demonstrate Nigeria’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and cooperation within the global maritime community,” said Mobereola.
Mobereola noted that over 80 percent of the helicopter wreckage has been recovered, including items such as the “rotor, three blades, engine, gearbox, windows, cockpit overhead panels, Electronic Locator Transmitter (ELT), and the tail”.
The recovered parts he said are being stored on a dump barge.
Commending the swift, well-coordinated inter-agency partnership involved in the search and recovery operations, Mobereola assured that all necessary steps will be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.
“Our deepest sympathies are with the NNPC, the families, and loved ones of those affected by this unfortunate incident.
“Safety is a paramount commitment for us at NIMASA, and we remain resolute in our partnership with the Nigerian Navy and other stakeholders to ensure an effective, rapid response in emergencies.
“As we mourn those lost, NIMASA reaffirms its dedication to the safety of Nigeria’s maritime domain and the continued strengthening of inter-agency collaboration,” he added.
On October 24, 2024, NIMASA received distress signals at its Regional Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC) and the Deep Blue project’s C4i center. These were immediately shared with the Nigerian Navy, which deployed NIMASA’s specialized search and rescue assets to the crash site, undertaking challenging recovery operations.
The helicopter crashed 1.4 km from the starboard side of the Floating Production Storage Offloading (FPSO) unit NUIM ANTAN, owned by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited, according to a statement by NIMASA’s Head of Public Relations, Osagie Edward.