By Ken Muthomi - Reporter
Kenya, Africa 16, 2026 - The Kenya Maritime Authority has confirmed the detention of a Kenyan- flagged vessel, M/V SEA MFALME, in Tanzania.
In a statement on Thursday, the authority said that it is working closely with the relevant government agencies to determine the exact circumstances that led to the detention of the vessel.
KMA has assured that the situation will be handled in line with intergovernmental frameworks, and further communication will be issued once investigations are complete.
“The matter is currently under review, with the Authority working closely with relevant Government agencies and counterparts in Kenya and Tanzania to verify the circumstances and facilitate appropriate follow-up actions,” KMA stated.
“The Authority remains committed to safeguarding the credibility of Kenya's ship registry and ensuring adherence to applicable maritime standards,” it added.
Even though the exact reason for the detention has not been revealed, a foreign vessel can be detained in Tanzania for violating maritime laws, engaging in illegal activities, or failing to comply with regulatory requirements under the authority of the Tanzania Shipping Agencies Corporation (TASAC) or the Tanzanian security forces.
Some common reasons for detention include illegal fishing, illegal trafficking, smuggling, lack of proper documentation, breaches of territorial integrity, and labour disputes.
Tanzanian authorities have the right to inspect and detain the vessel under a court order, especially in cases involving maritime claims.
KMA usually investigates such cases to ensure the safety and fair treatment of Kenyan seafarers while coordinating with Tanzanian authorities to resolve the issues.
Just two days ago, Tanzanian authorities arrested four individuals for allegedly attempting to smuggle a large consignment of khat (miraa) from Mombasa into Tanzania.
The Drug Control and Enforcement Authority (DCEA) revealed that it intercepted the boat Magambani Beach in the Kaole Ufundi area of Bagamoyo District.
The DCEA managed to recover 1,062 bundles, which were in 18 sacks. The four suspects were all Tanzanian nationals and had been under surveillance for a long period, according to the DCEA Commissioner General Aretas Lyimo.
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