The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has intensified enforcement of Nigeria’s Cabotage rules, detaining vessels over alleged violations in Lagos waters because it strikes to strengthen indigenous participation in coastal and inland transport.
The vessels recognized through the intelligence-led operation, code-named Operation Sea Guardian, included MT Holmes, MT Fujairah Energy, JS Gratitude and MT Bora.
NIMASA mentioned some vessels had been launched after regularising their infractions.
The operation centered on verifying compliance with Cabotage obligations, assessing relevant surcharges and levies, and implementing different maritime rules.
The intensified operation concerned NIMASA enforcement personnel, the Nigerian Navy, the Maritime Guard Command and C4i intelligence personnel, supported by Deep Blue property deployed to trace, board and examine focused vessels.
According to the company, vessels thought-about at excessive danger of defaulting on Cabotage necessities have been prioritised for scrutiny and added to an present database used to plan subsequent enforcement operations.
NIMASA Director-General, Dr Dayo Mobereola, mentioned the company would conduct such operations extra regularly, warning that operators discovered in breach of the legislation would face stiff 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,”
Mobereola mentioned. “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.”
The crackdown follows a marine discover issued by NIMASA on August 26, 2026, which restated the circumstances for taking part in Cabotage commerce and warned vessel homeowners, firms, operators, charterers and different stakeholders towards violations.
The Cabotage regime is meant to advertise Nigerian capability in home transport and increase alternatives for indigenous maritime operators.
Consistent enforcement is due to this fact central to making sure compliance and strengthening native participation in the sector.
NIMASA mentioned Operation Sea Guardian types a part of its persevering with efforts to enhance regulatory oversight and guarantee adherence to relevant maritime legal guidelines.
JS Gratitude and Bora are each Nigerian-flagged vessels whereas Holmes with IMO quantity 9858785 is registered in the Marshall Islands, based mostly on the accessible ship monitoring information.
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