Search and rescue teams are searching for 10 crew members missing after an explosion on floating production storage and offloading vessel off Escravos, Nigerian officials said.

The 22,000-bpd Trinity Spirit, which is owned by Lagos-based Shebah Exploration & Production Company (Sepcol), sank after the blast, local sources reported.

“The Management of Shebah Exploration & Production Company Ltd (SEPCOL) in RECEIVERSHIP hereby announce the unfortunate incident of a fire that engulfed our offshore facility, the FPSO Trinity Spirit located at the Ukpokiti Terminal, following an explosion during the early hours of Wednesday, 2nd of February 2022,” said the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Ikemefuna Okafor.

“The cause of the explosion is currently being investigated and we are working with necessary parties to contain the situation,” he added. (ILKHA)