Complete Maritime Profile & Reviews of Hoegh-Transporter

On September 26, the vessel "Hoegh Transporter" set sail from Dar es Salaam to Beira, following a noteworthy detention incident involving the ship and its 21 crew members. The detention arose from a significant administrative error concerning the cargo documentation. Although the bill of lading disclosed that the consignment contained weapons intended for a United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the ship's manifest omitted this crucial information. Höegh Autoliners expressed deep regrets over the serious oversight by the shipper, which led to considerable disruptions affecting their operations, the crew's well-being, and the company's other customers. The company collaborated closely with the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and local authorities to resolve the matter, allowing the ship to resume its planned voyage to South Africa, West Africa, and Mexico. The cooperation with local authorities proved effective, reflecting their understanding of the severity of the situation. The vessel's ownership assured that in accordance with Höegh Autoliners' strict policy against the transportation of arms on civilian-purpose vessels, they were unaware of the weaponry included in this shipment. They emphasized that had they known about the weapons hidden within the vehicle consignment from the United Nations, they would have denied booking and loading the cargo altogether. This oversight not only violated Kenyan law but also breached the company's internal regulations. The United Nations sought to clarify the situation by revealing that a request had been sent through the UN contractor to amend the manifest with the help of the Mombasa shipping agent. Unfortunately, due to procedural limitations, the amendment was unachievable, leading to a declaration regarding the weapons being added to the manifest belatedly. Additionally, the UN commented on the unfortunate circumstance of Kenyan authorities inspecting the cargo without UN oversight, stating it contradicts established protocols concerning privileges and immunities. The incident garnered negative media attention, complicating perceptions of the Hoegh Autoliners brand, especially as some reports speculated that the recent passing of UN maritime crime program coordinator Shamus Mangan might be linked to the vessel. However, authorities clarified that Mangan's death was not connected to the sortie of the Hoegh Transporter, despite media conjectures concerning his involvement in a UN investigation into alleged drug activity related to the ship. Following a brief post-mortem examination, no further inquiries into Mangan's death will take place, and the cause remains undisclosed as the police have yet to release the post-mortem report. Shamus Mangan was laid to rest on September 6 in an Islamic cemetery located in Mombasa.

In a recent turn of events, the Höegh Transporter, a Norwegian-flagged car carrier, has been released by Kenyan authorities after being detained for over a week due to a miscommunication regarding undeclared weapons in a United Nations shipment. The ship was inspected at the bustling port of Mombasa on September 17, revealing weapons hidden within armored personnel carriers that were intended for the U.N. peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Following the incident, Hoegh Autoliners, the Norwegian company that owns the vessel, issued a statement confirming the ship's release and its resumption of its ocean voyage. The U.N. clarified that the arms were part of a legitimate shipment destined for its Indian peacekeeping force in the troubled region of Congo. Hoegh Autoliners expressed regret over the situation, emphasizing that they were unaware of the hidden firearms, which resulted in a violation of both Kenyan law and the company’s own stringent shipping regulations. Additionally, contrary to earlier reports from Kenyan police, no illicit drugs were found onboard the Höegh Transporter. Hoegh Autoliners stated, "A search for drugs yielded no results involving the vessel or crew." This incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by East African coastguards and navies in combatting the trafficking of narcotics, as the region increasingly becomes a prominent route for Afghan heroin export to Europe.

The United Nations has come to the defense of an arms shipment discovered last week by Kenyan authorities aboard a Norwegian-flagged vessel, Hoegh Transporter, stating that the cargo was legitimate and meant for U.N. peacekeepers. This clarification comes after Kenyan officials found an array of weapons alongside what appeared to be narcotics mixed in with a series of U.N. vehicles at the port of Mombasa. Nasser Ega-Musa, a U.N. spokesman based in Nairobi, emphasized on Thursday that the inspection should not have occurred without U.N. representatives present, highlighting a divergence from established international protocols. He described the incident as unfortunate and confirmed that there is an ongoing investigation into the alarming drug allegations discovered on the ship. The East African region has been grappling with an increase in drug trafficking, particularly as it serves as a primary route for Afghan heroin heading to Europe, complicating security efforts. According to the U.N.'s official statement, the munitions found aboard the Hoegh Transporter were actually part of an authorized shipment of armored personnel carriers (APCs) intended for the U.N. peacekeeping contingent in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The U.N. noted that it is standard procedure for any weapons attached to the APCs to be disassembled and secured within the carriers during transport to prevent damage. The agency revealed that the contractor responsible for the shipment had previously communicated necessary details regarding the arms to the Kenyan port authorities and is fully cooperating with local officials. Hoegh Autoliners, the Norwegian owner of the Hoegh Transporter, disclosed that it was not informed of the presence of these weapons and that their inclusion violated the terms of the shipping contract. Meanwhile, Regional Police Commander Francis Wanjohi indicated to Reuters that investigations are still underway, and further details will emerge as the situation develops.