Professional Review of Emergency Towing Arrangements on Offshore Drilling Vessels Operating in Nigerian Waters

Emergency towing arrangements provide a critical last resort capability for controlling disabled drilling vessels that pose collision, pollution, and safety hazards. This study reviews the professional standard of emergency towing systems and the capability of emergency response resources available for disabled drilling vessels in Nigerian offshore waters. A professional case study review methodology was employed, using interviews with ten offshore installation managers, marine warranty surveyors, and emergency towing specialists, review of emergency towing procedure documentation from five drilling vessels, and assessment of emergency towing asset availability through NIMASA and oil company emergency response records. The study applies the IMO's Emergency Towing Systems Guidelines as the evaluation standard. Findings indicate that emergency towing systems aboard newer drilling vessels comply with current guidelines, but older vessels operating under legacy contracts lack the dedicated stern emergency towing arrangements required by more recent guidelines. Emergency towing asset availability in the Nigerian offshore zone is found to be predominantly dependent on commercial salvage vessels operating under standby contracts, with response times to remote deepwater locations potentially exceeding twenty-four hours. Crew familiarisation with emergency towing procedures is limited to paper-based reviews without practical drill components on most vessels reviewed. Recommendations include mandatory practical emergency towing drills, standardisation of emergency towing connection points on all drilling vessels, and pre-positioning of at least one dedicated emergency towing vessel in the eastern offshore zone. Keywords: emergency towing, drilling vessels, offshore safety, disabled vessel response, emergency preparedness