By Nuh Mohamed - Reporter
Somalia, 2 April 2026 Somalia has registered its first merchant vessel under its national flag since the collapse of the central government in 1991, the Ministry of Ports and Marine Transport announced on Thursday, marking a key step in reclaiming maritime sovereignty.
The vessel, named “Guney” (IMO 8230417), was formally entered into the Somali shipping registry on Wednesday after completing all necessary legal and technical requirements. The move follows years of legislative preparation aimed at rebuilding the country's maritime administration and ending its long-standing absence from international shipping lanes as a flag state.
Minister of Ports and Marine Transport, Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur, hailed the registration as a symbol of the nation’s recovery. Writing on his official Facebook page, Nur stated that the achievement represents the restoration of Somalia's maritime authority and its ability to govern its territorial waters effectively.
“This is the first time since the state collapse that a ship has been registered under Somalia’s flag,” Nur said.
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He emphasized that the government has now established the robust legal frameworks required to manage its own fleet and flag operations.
The federal government’s push to revitalize its maritime sector is being supported by strategic partnerships with specialized entities.
The ministry is collaborating closely with Somali Ship Register Limited, a technical partner tasked with managing the digital database and inspection protocols for the registry.
The ministry has issued a call to international and local shipowners to register their vessels under the Somali flag, noting that the new digital infrastructure is designed to provide transparent and efficient services that meet global industry expectations.