Recent claims circulating on social media alleging that a Chinese vessel unlawfully entered Sierra Leone’s territorial waters and discharged cement without proper clearance have been clarified following a review of the actual sequence of events.
The allegation, made by Amidu Kamara, suggested that the vessel had bypassed official procedures and posed potential security concerns. However, verified information indicates that the vessel followed all required maritime and port regulations.
According to available records, the vessel operated by Sol Co. lawfully arrived at Freetown Port on 16 January 2026 at 16:00 GMT, where it proceeded to the designated anchorage area.
That same evening, a multi-agency boarding team conducted a routine inspection of the vessel. The team included officials from the Sierra Leone Ports and Harbours Authority (SLPHA), Customs, Immigration, the Maritime Administration, International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) personnel, and Port Health authorities. The inspection was carried out in line with established maritime procedures.
Following the completion of all formal clearance processes, the vessel proceeded to Kent Jetty under the guidance of a certified Ports Authority pilot, with Customs officials also onboard.
The cargo onboard the vessel consisted of 30,000 metric tons of bagged cement and 300 metric tons of general cargo, intended for jetty and factory construction.
Cargo discharge operations commenced on 18 January 2026 and continued until 6 February 2026. After completing the discharge process, the vessel departed the same day.
Authorities have confirmed that at no point did the vessel bypass clearance procedures, nor was national security compromised during its operations.
Officials also noted that attempts to link the incident to the recent Guinea border issue are misleading and unnecessarily alarming. Sierra Leone’s maritime domain operates under strict inter-agency oversight, which requires mandatory vessel boarding, documentation checks, and continuous monitoring before any cargo can be discharged.
The public has therefore been urged to remain calm, as maritime operations within Sierra Leone’s territorial waters are closely monitored and regulated.
However, authorities emphasized that public vigilance remains important. Citizens who observe any genuinely suspicious activities within Sierra Leone’s territorial waters are encouraged to report them promptly to the Sierra Leone Police or other relevant maritime security agencies.
Officials stressed that while public scrutiny is important, accurate information and verified facts must guide public discourse, noting that in this case, the facts clearly show that all procedures were properly followed.