NIMASA Detains Non-Compliant Vessels In Lagos Waters Over Cabotage Violations
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has detained several vessels operating within the Lagos maritime domain for alleged non-compliance with cabotage regulations and other applicable maritime requirements.
The agency disclosed this on Wednesday following a targeted enforcement operation, codenamed Operation Sea Guardian, aimed at strengthening regulatory compliance and promoting indigenous participation in Nigeria’s coastal and inland shipping trade.
The operation led to the detention of vessels identified as MT HOLMES, MT FUJAIRAH ENERGY, JS GRATITUDE and MT BORA. NIMASA, however, noted that some of the vessels had been released after regularising their respective infractions.
According to the agency, the enforcement exercise was designed to verify compliance with cabotage obligations, assess the payment of applicable surcharges and levies, and ensure strict adherence to existing maritime laws and regulations.
The operation deployed assets under the Deep Blue Project to track, board and inspect vessels identified through intelligence reports, surveillance profiling and compliance indicators.
It was also conducted in collaboration with the Nigerian Navy, the Maritime Guard Command and C4i intelligence personnel, as part of efforts to improve maritime surveillance and enforcement through inter-agency cooperation.
NIMASA explained that vessels considered to have a high likelihood of defaulting on cabotage requirements were identified and prioritised for further scrutiny.
The agency added that the identified vessels were incorporated into an expanded Target Bank, a centralised database of vessels of interest established during an earlier enforcement exercise to guide the planning and execution of subsequent operations.
The database, it said, would help ensure that enforcement resources were directed towards high-risk vessels and operators suspected of violating applicable maritime regulations.
Reacting to the development, NIMASA Director-General, Dr Dayo Mobereola, said the agency would intensify enforcement operations, warning that operators who failed to comply with the law would face appropriate sanctions.
Mobereola said the agency had previously announced stricter enforcement of indigenous participation in coastal and inland trade, adding that the latest operation demonstrated its commitment to implementing the policy.
He urged maritime operators to ensure full compliance with the relevant regulations, stressing that offenders would face stiff sanctions in accordance with the law.
The NIMASA chief’s warning follows a marine notice issued by the agency on August 26, 2026, in furtherance of its statutory responsibility to promote indigenous capacity in international and coastal shipping.
The notice reiterated the conditions governing participation in cabotage trade and warned that any vessel, company, operator, charterer or other stakeholder found to have violated the Cabotage Act or related requirements would be subjected to enforcement action in line with the law.
The latest operation underscores NIMASA’s renewed efforts to strengthen regulatory oversight, enforce cabotage provisions and ensure greater participation of indigenous operators in Nigeria’s maritime industry.
