Merchant Navy officers mourn dead, missing crew of Bourbon Rhodes

Segun Oladipupo |

The Nigeria Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association (NMNOWTSSA) has condoles with the management, staff and families of the affected crew in the recent category 4 Hurricane Lorenzo that sank the vessel of Bourbon Interpol Nigeria Limited.

In a one page letter signed by the Deputy Secretary General of the association, Aleakhue John Okpono, it described the sad incident as a trying time for company.

Recall that on 26th September, 2019, the company’s vessel, Bourbon Rhodes with 14 crew on-board sank.

Three of the crew were rescued, four confirmed dead while seven members of the crew were declared missing even as rescue operations were ongoing.

The union said that despite efforts put up by management of the company to salvage the situation, regretted that the company could not withstand the heavy rough weather from the Hurricane.

It stated thus; “With our hearts full of grief, the leadership of our great association wishes to transmit our condolences and sympathy to the management of Bourbon Interpol Nigeria Limited over her vessel, Bourbon Rhode with 14 crew on-board which sank on the 26th of September, 2019 with three crews rescued, four crews confirmed dead and seven crew still missing.

“To us, it is actually a trying period for the management who worked assiduously to salvage the situation but it was the contrary as the vessel couldn’t withstand the heavy rough weather from category 4 Hurricane Lorenzo.

“We wish the management of Bourbon, the families of the deceased officers and others the fortitude to bear the great loss.

“May the souls of the departed ones rest in blossom of God. AMEN,” it concluded