Shipping constitutes the backbone of global commerce, facilitating the movement of approximately 90% of the world’s goods, yet it remains a significant contributor to marine pollution through oil spills, ballast water discharge, and harmful emissions. This paper examines the role of technological innovations such as emission control systems, oil spill monitoring and response technologies, and ballast water treatment systems in addressing ship-source marine pollution. It argues that while these technologies are vital for environmental protection, their effectiveness depends largely on robust regulatory enforcement and institutional capacity. The study analyses the regulatory role of the International Maritime Organization and evaluates the domestic implementation of international standards in Nigeria through agencies such as the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA). Adopting a doctrinal research methodology, the paper relies on primary legal sources, including international conventions particularly the MARPOL Convention relevant national legislation, and institutional frameworks, alongside secondary materials subjected to content analysis. The findings reveal that despite comprehensive legal and regulatory regimes, weak enforcement, inadequate technical expertise, and limited infrastructure significantly undermine compliance. These shortcomings reflect broader challenges of environmental governance and regulatory accountability in developing jurisdictions. The paper recommends strengthening institutional capacity, improving technological integration, and enhancing enforcement mechanisms to ensure more effective control of ship-source marine pollution in Nigeria and beyond.

Keywords: Environment, Marine pollution, ship-source, technological innovation