Eswatini moves to stop unauthorised use of national flag on vessels

MANZINI – Eswatini is moving to establish a maritime system to curb unauthorised vessel registrations under its flag and benefit from the blue economy.

The initiative is expected to give the country greater control over the registration of vessels flying the Eswatini flag and create opportunities to generate revenue from international maritime activities. The blue economy encompasses economic activities linked to oceans and waterways, including shipping, maritime transport, fisheries and related services. For a landlocked country such as Eswatini, participation would depend on developing an appropriate legal framework, institutional capacity and international partnerships.

To learn how such a system operates, Eswatini recently sent a delegation to Liberia, one of the major players in the global ship registration industry, to study the processes involved in establishing and maintaining a maritime authority and ship registration system.

Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Public Works and Transport Thulani Mkhaliphi, who was part of the delegation, confirmed the visit, describing it as beneficial to the country. He said another visit to a landlocked country was planned to learn how countries without coastlines participate in maritime transport. “Marine is part of the system. We currently do not have a clear marine transport system. Landlocked countries have the right to participate in marine transportation for the blue economy,” Mkhaliphi said.

He explained that the country was exploring opportunities in the maritime sector, including the legal and regulatory arrangements that would enable it to participate in international shipping despite having no coastline. “There are international conventions that we should note while doing this. We are going to countries around the world which are in coastal lands. Likewise, we will also move to landlocked countries. We are checking the opportunities that exist in marine,” he said.

Mkhaliphi said Liberia is an important country to learn from because of its extensive ship registry, which allows vessels owned by entities from other countries to be registered under the Liberian flag.

“Liberia is one of the largest flag countries, which means they register vessels that do not belong to them. There is a lot of economy that you can benefit from that,” he said.

He said the delegation would also visit landlocked countries to understand the laws and systems they had put in place to participate in the maritime industry.

“If you have a system, you are better placed,” Mkhaliphi said.

Meanwhile, the Liberia Maritime Authority (LiMA) confirmed that it had received a high-level delegation from Eswatini for a week-long working visit aimed at strengthening institutional cooperation and sharing knowledge on maritime administration and ship registration.

According to a statement issued by LiMA, the visit was intended to support Eswatini’s efforts to establish its own Maritime Authority and Ship Registry, drawing on Liberia’s experience in the international shipping industry. During the engagement, the delegation was expected to learn about Liberia’s practices in ship registration, maritime safety oversight, regulatory compliance and the development of a competitive maritime programme.

Welcoming the delegation, LiMA Director of International Affairs Atty. Darlington Duoe expressed optimism about the engagement, highlighting the importance of constructive discussions and practical outcomes that could benefit both countries. Duoe said the working visit provided an opportunity for Eswatini and Liberia to strengthen cooperation and exchange knowledge on maritime governance and administration.

In his remarks, LiMA Deputy Commissioner for Domestic Vessel Registration and Safety John F Harvey Jr highlighted Liberia’s long-standing presence in the international shipping industry.

Harvey said Liberia’s development of a globally recognised ship registry had resulted from deliberate planning, sustained institutional commitment and adherence to international maritime standards.

He explained that the country’s achievements had been built over many years through institutional development, a structured approach to shipping and consistent enforcement of maritime rules and regulations. Harvey further emphasised that establishing a ship registry alone was not enough to earn and maintain credibility in the global maritime industry.

He said countries needed strong regulatory institutions, effective enforcement systems and a commitment to international standards governing maritime safety and vessel operations. These measures, he noted, were necessary to build the legal, administrative and regulatory structures required for a maritime authority to function effectively and gain international confidence. For Eswatini, the engagement offers an opportunity to learn from Liberia’s experience as the kingdom explores establishing its own maritime administration and ship registry.

Beyond the potential revenue from vessel registration, a properly regulated maritime system could strengthen oversight of vessels registered under the national flag and help ensure that such registrations comply with applicable laws and international requirements.

The planned engagement with other landlocked countries is expected to provide further insight into the legal arrangements and practical measures needed to establish such a system.

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