Nigeria LNG (NLNG) has announced that the crew aboard its chartered vessel, Aktoras, rescued a stranded kayaker from drowning off the coast of Bermuda on November 5. The intervention came after the ship responded to an emergency call during its gas trading operations in the Caribbean market.
In a statement released on its verified X handle on Tuesday, NLNG praised the crew’s actions, saying they had “turned an ordinary operation into an extraordinary act of humanity.”
“Responding swiftly to an emergency call from RCC Bermuda, the crew launched a Search and Rescue mission for a missing kayaker,” the statement read.
“Their vigilance and courage paid off; they found him adrift, rescued him, and gave him warmth, care, and hope.”
Kayaking — a sport involving man-powered watercraft often seen on rivers, lakes, and ocean surf — is widely practiced in Caribbean waters near the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda renowned for its pink-sand beaches.
“We celebrate the AKTORAS captain and crew for their bravery and professionalism,” NLNG added.
The Aktoras is the most eco-friendly gas vessel in NLNG’s fleet. It made its maiden loading at Bonny Terminal in July 2024.
Nigeria’s gas trade in the Caribbean
Africa’s largest LNG exporter, Nigeria, began trading in the Caribbean about nine years ago. Jamaica has since emerged as a key market, driven by rising gas demand for its electricity sector.
According to the Gas Exporting Countries Forum, Jamaica recorded higher LNG imports in 2024, largely supplied by Nigeria and Mexico.
BusinessDay reported that Nigeria sold LNG worth $160.6m to Jamaica in 2023, making it the country’s second-largest supplier after the United States.
Despite this progress, Nigeria’s LNG exports to the Caribbean remain modest compared to Europe and Asia, which account for the bulk of its volumes.
Nigeria plans to expand its LNG export capacity in 2026 with the launch of the $10bn Train 7 project, now in its final stages of construction.
The expansion will boost NLNG’s processing capability by 35%, increasing output from 22m t/yr to 30m t/yr.