Oil rig declared as Vessel under Cabotage Act
Justice Babs Kiewumi in his judgment, noted that oil rigs fell within the definition of vessels under the Act.
The case was filed before the court by Seadrill Mobile Units Nigeria Limited against the Ministry of Transportation and two others.
The plaintiff had initiated the suit in reaction to the detention of its oil rig, The West Capella, by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
The vessel was detained on the ground that the plaintiff failed to register it as a vessel at the agency’s Ship Registry (SR) for cabotage operations.
Pursuant to the suit, the plaintiff in seeking the release of its vessel from detention sought legal redress.
In challenging the action of the defendants, the plaintiff urged the court to determine whether drilling operations fall within the definition of coastal trade under section 2 of the Cabotage Act.
