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Crashed helicopter: NIMASA to reveal findings to IMO

Flight Data Recorder FDR and Cockpit Voice Recorder CVR otherwise called the black box have been recovered.

The feat was possible through an inter-agency collaboration involving NIMASA, the Nigerian Navy, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau NSIB, the NNPC, HydroDive and other local and international search and rescue partners from the helicopter crash into the Atlantic Ocean near Bonny Finima off the coast of Calabar. 

With the recovery of the black box, over 80 per cent of the helicopter wreck had been recovered. Other items recovered include rotor,3 blades, engine, gearbox, windows, cockpit overhead panels, the Electronic Locator, Transmitter (ELT) and the tail. All the recovered wreck is on a dump barge. 

The Director General of NIMASA, Dr Dayo Mobereola in a press statement on Sunday commended all organs of government for the swift, and well-coordinated inter Agency partnership for the search and recovery operations.

He noted that NIMASA will share information on the incident with the International Maritime Organization.

He said with the recovery of the black box, over 80 per cent of the helicopter wreck had been recovered.

 Other items recovered include rotor, 3 blades, engine, gearbox, windows, and cockpit overhead panels, the Electronic Locator, Transmitter (ELT) and the tail. All the recovered wreck is on a dump barge. 

“In line with international maritime safety standards, NIMASA will report the findings about the helicopter crash into the Atlantic Ocean to the International Maritime Organization IMO via the Global Integrated Shipping Information System 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”.

The Global Integrated Shipping Information System (GISIS) is an online platform developed by the IMO to support the timely and accurate reporting of incidents, accidents, and other essential maritime data. This platform enables member states to share information crucial to improving safety protocols, updating best practices, and fostering international cooperation.

On October 24th 2024, the Agency had received distress signals at the Regional Maritime Rescue Coordination Center, MRCC and the C4i center of the Deep Blue project and shared same with the Nigerian Navy who immediately deployed NIMASA’s specialized Search and rescue assets to the crash site to locate the downed aircraft and conduct recovery efforts under challenging conditions.

The helicopter crashed in the Atlantic Ocean near Bonny Finima, at a distance of 1.4km from the starboard side of the Floating Production Storage Offloading FPSO, NUIM ANTAN Producing Ltd owned by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC Limited.





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