The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has detained four vessels in Lagos over violations of Nigeria’s Cabotage regulations, warning that defaulting operators will face stiff sanctions.
The vessels — MT Holmes, MT Fujairah Energy, JS Gratitude and MT Bora — were detained during an enforcement operation targeting non-compliance with coastal shipping regulations and local content requirements in the maritime sector.
NIMASA disclosed that some of the vessels had since been released after regularising their infractions.
The operation, code-named Operation Sea Guardian, was conducted to strengthen regulatory compliance, verify adherence to Cabotage obligations, assess compliance with applicable surcharges and levies, and enforce maritime regulations.
The exercise targeted vessels identified through intelligence reports, surveillance profiling and other compliance indicators within the Lagos maritime domain.
Assets under the Deep Blue Project were deployed to track, board and inspect the vessels and verify their operational status.
The operation involved collaboration among NIMASA enforcement personnel, the Nigerian Navy, the Maritime Guard Command and C4i intelligence personnel.
Reacting to the development, NIMASA Director-General, Dr Dayo Mobereola, said enforcement operations would become more frequent, warning that operators who flouted the law would face appropriate sanctions.
“We had earlier served notice of enhanced enforcement of indigenous participation in our coastal and inland trade, and this is exactly what we are doing.
“It is therefore in the interest of operators to ensure total compliance because defaulters will be visited with stiff sanctions in line with the law,” he said.
The agency said the enforcement drive was aimed at strengthening indigenous participation in Nigeria’s coastal and inland shipping trade and ensuring strict compliance with the country’s Cabotage regime.
