The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has clarified that only two vessels, MT Holmes and MT Sabeak, were detained during its recent enforcement operation, codenamed Operation Sea Guardian, after they were found to be non-compliant with applicable maritime regulations.
The agency said three other vessels—MT Fujairah Energy, JS Gratitude and MT Bora—were not detained, contrary to its earlier statement, as they were found to be in full compliance with the Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act and other relevant regulations.
In a statement issued on Thursday, NIMASA said the clarification was necessary to ensure transparency, while expressing regret over the confusion and inconvenience caused to the affected vessels and their owners.
“Contrary to our earlier statement, MT FUJAIRAH ENERGY, JS GRATITUDE and MT BORA were not detained as they were in full compliance with the Cabotage Act and other extant regulations. However, MT Holmes and MT Sabeak were the vessels detained for noncompliance,” the agency stated.
The clarification followed the agency’s enforcement operation aimed at strengthening compliance with Nigeria’s maritime laws, particularly regulations governing cabotage obligations, surcharges and levies.
According to NIMASA, Operation Sea Guardian was designed to verify vessels’ compliance with applicable regulations and address violations identified through intelligence reports and other compliance indicators.
The operation deployed assets under the Deep Blue Project to track, board, inspect and verify the operational status of vessels suspected of violating maritime regulations.
NIMASA said the exercise was conducted through inter-agency collaboration involving its enforcement personnel, the Nigerian Navy, the Maritime Guard Command and C4i intelligence personnel.
The agency said the coordinated approach was intended to improve maritime surveillance, strengthen enforcement and ensure that vessels operating in Nigerian waters comply with the country’s regulatory framework.
The Cabotage Act regulates coastal and inland shipping activities in Nigeria, including participation in domestic maritime trade. Compliance with the law is a key component of efforts to promote local participation in the maritime sector and ensure that operators meet their statutory obligations.
NIMASA’s latest statement also sought to correct the public record following the earlier misidentification of the vessels detained during the operation.
The agency acknowledged the inconvenience caused by the initial mix-up and apologised to the affected vessels and their owners.
The statement was signed by Osagie Edward, FNIPR, Deputy Director and Head of Public Relations at NIMASA.
