Deputy Speaker Shocked by Niko Ivanka Incident

The Deputy Speaker and Grand Kru County District #2 Representative, Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa has expressed shock by the tragic incident of a sunken cargo vessel, Niko Ivanka, on which nine staff of the West African Examination council drowned and went missing.

The ship, which had on board 28 people, started to take in water at 2300 hrs (11 pm),  and after a few hours sank with the debris in the water. 

 According to the maritime group Sea Shepherd, the early rescue operation was hindered by visibility due to heavy rain and darkness.  

Six of the 11 people rescued earlier survived by staying in a single life raft belonging to Niko Ivanka, while another five persons were rescued after spending 13 hours in the water. 

Two were wearing life jackets and another three were holding on to them, according to the group Sea Shepherd, which was the first to come to the ship and its passengers’ rescue.

So only 12 people have been rescued since the operation began, while the fate of 16 other passengers including two children remains unknown.

Devastated by the misfortune, Cllr. Koffa expressed regret about the situation, especially occurring along the Southeast.  “Had the corridor been paved, such would not have happened,” said Deputy Speaker Koffa.

The Deputy Speaker, in the wake of the tragedy, is calling on the Legislature to speed up appropriation for the development of infrastructure by land, sea, and air for meaningful and safe travel to the Southeast of Liberia.

“I would like to express condolences to the families of those who have not been found, to the injured, and to all who have been affected by this terrible disaster. It is sad,” he said.

The Deputy Speaker hailed the efforts of the Government headed by the Liberia Maritime Authority (LMA) and the National Coast Guard of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) for the rescue of 12 passengers and looks forward to a speedy recovery process.

Meanwhile, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has announced that it regrets the tragedy and therefore informs all school candidates that the national examinations that were scheduled to be administered this week have been postponed. 

“The postponement is triggered by the unfortunate sinking of a vessel that was transporting nine (9) staff of WAEC and examination materials from the Freeport of Monrovia to Harper, Maryland County.  Examinations will be administered at a later date to be announced,” WACE said.

NIKO IVANKA

Built locally and commissioned by Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor in 2018, the NIKO IVANKA had been an essential transporter of goods and people to the southeast. 

It regularly sails between the Freeport of Monrovia to the Port of Harper -- carrying essential goods that would have been delayed in reaching the southeast due to bad road conditions.

Owned by HYLAEA INC, the ship only took four months to be assembled at its hub in Marshall, Margibi County, and in no time got approval by the government to sail, although Liberia is not a shipbuilding country. Considering the uncertainty surrounding its durability, NIKO IVANKA was not allowed to sail on the high sea. 

The Liberia Maritime Authority approved the operation of the ship without any serious technical assessment, limiting it to carrying cargo to lessen the shortages of food and basic items southeast.