ArcelorMittal Liberia’s Tugboat crew has successfully rescued Mv Merveille, a Liberian flagged vessel that was sailing from the Port of Monrovia to the Port of Harper in Maryland.
The cargo ship was reported in distress about four nautical miles away from River Cess County because of a steering gear failure. Its master and crew were unreachable, according to the Monrovia Search and Rescue Center.
On 22nd June, the Liberia Maritime Authority (LiMA) requested ArcelorMittal Liberia’s emergency intervention to help save lives, property and protect the marine environment.
AML Tugboat crew located the vessel after a sea search and successfully rescued the crew and towed the vessel into a safe anchorage in the Port of Buchanan. The entire rescue and tow mission is said to have lasted more than 12 hours to complete.
AML’s port Operations Manager, Frank Anderson, said the company prioritized the rescue mission by placing its port operations secondary because of its commitment to the safety of crew members on the stranded vessel. He said the mission was executed with great care and concern not just for properties, but for the marine environment, as well as its partnership with the communities, government and people of Liberia.
In July 2021, ArcelorMittal Liberia responded to a distress call at sea about the sinking vessel, Niko Ivanka, and deployed its tugboats and staff, which helped rescued eleven of the passengers onboard.
The Niko Ivanka was transporting staffers of the West African Examination Council (WAEC), who were on their way to Maryland and Sinoe counties to administer the West African Examination Council’s exams.
In addition to the recent rescue mission, the company has, on other occasions, carried out operations to save lives, properties and the marine environment. ArcelorMittal’s tugboat crew has also responded to distress calls to rescue stranded seafarers of sinking fishing boats, and provided salvage services for the fishing trawler that drifted on the shores of Sophie’s community in Monrovia.
