By Opeyemi Adelakun
The Federal Government has strengthened its maritime security operations with new equipment under the Deep Blue Project, as authorities intensify efforts to curb illegal fishing, cargo violations and other criminal activities in Nigerian waters.
The latest additions include an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system, a light vehicle for the Maritime Security Unit’s land operations and a newly delivered armoured vehicle for special forces.
The Deep Blue Project is operated by HLS International in partnership with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence.
Although initially focused on tackling piracy, militancy and arms trafficking, the project is expanding its surveillance capacity to cover illegal fishing, cargo-related violations and environmental offences.
The Chief Executive Officer of HLS International, Tal Spector, said the new technologies would improve the government’s ability to monitor maritime activities, enforce regulations and protect revenue.
Spector, who spoke at an international exhibition where the company displayed security equipment deployed in Nigeria, said the newly introduced UAV system could take off and land vertically, making it suitable for operations from vessels at sea.
He explained that the technology could also be deployed on land and used for surveillance both during the day and at night.
He said the expanded system would enable operators to monitor vessels, cargo movements, illegal fishing and the unauthorised dumping of hazardous waste into the sea.
According to Spector, the project is incorporating additional intelligence capabilities to help NIMASA and other government agencies obtain more detailed information about vessels and their cargoes.
He emphasised that illegal fishing was a major concern because of its impact on local livelihoods and government revenue.
Spector said the Deep Blue Project was intended to ensure that vessels entering and leaving Nigerian waters operated in line with applicable laws and regulations.
He disclosed that the project’s Command and Control Centre could monitor vessels travelling from different parts of the world towards Nigeria’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
The system provides intelligence on vessel ownership, identification details, International Maritime Organisation (IMO) numbers and Automatic Identification System (AIS) transmissions.
It can also help identify vessels that switch off their AIS transponders, enabling operators to examine suspicious movements and support enforcement operations.
Spector said the project’s C4I system contained up to 15 years of historical information on vessel movements, adding that further intelligence capabilities had recently been integrated to monitor cargoes, including dry cargo shipments.
He maintained that regular investment in modern technology was necessary to keep maritime security operations effective as criminal networks evolved.
Beyond security and revenue protection, Spector warned that illegal activities at sea could have serious environmental and public health consequences.
He cited the unauthorised dumping of hazardous waste as a threat to marine life, fishing activities and the health of Nigerians, calling for stronger surveillance to detect and prevent such violations.
He added that improved maritime security could also support shipping activities and the movement of goods into Nigeria, with wider benefits for the country’s economy.
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