New details have emerged about a boat interception operation earlier this month, with one asylum seeker saying Navy personnel sprayed him in the eyes.

A Somali asylum seeker has told the ABC that there were angry protests when people found out the boat was being turned around and they were being returned to Indonesia.

He alleges that during the onboard argument he suffered burns when he came into contact with a hot engine after an Australian sailor sprayed him with a substance that caused his eyes to burn.

The fresh allegations come as Immigration Minister Scott Morrison confirms the Government is determined to turn back asylum seeker boats where it is safe to do so.

"What I've confirmed today is what we've been confirming all along, which is the policy of this Government," he said.

"That is that any vessel that seeks to illegally enter Australian waters will be intercepted and removed from our waters."

He says turning back boats is one of a series of measures that have seen no boats arrive in January for the first time in six years.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Listen Duration: 3 minutes 32 seconds 3 m 32 s George Roberts reports on the latest allegations Download 1.6 MB

"I know for a fact that the way information is being handled in this operation is contributing to its success," he told AM this morning.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Listen Duration: 10 minutes 2 seconds 10 m Immigration Minister Scott Morrison speaks to AM Download 4.6 MB

Mr Morrison is currently facing a grilling from Labor and Greens senators at a Senate inquiry into the Federal Government's refusal to release key documents about border protection.

The committee requested to speak to government representatives along with officials from Defence, Immigration and Customs.

Morrison rejects latest claims of abuse by Navy personnel

Mr Morrison says it is normal for Navy personnel to carry personal defensive equipment.

The Government has emphatically rejected any claim of mistreatment.

"Any suggestion of mistreatment or misuse of force of any of these devices that are available to them is completely unsubstantiated, completely without basis and is rejected by the Government," Mr Morrison said.

Somali asylum seeker Boby Nooris claims he was sprayed in the eyes during a boat interception in early January. ( ABC News: George Roberts )

Until now access to the asylum seekers and more detail of their allegations has been hard to come by.

But four men managed to escape the watch of Indonesian authorities and leave their hotel to give the ABC a more detailed account.

Twenty-year-old Somali asylum seeker Boby Nooris was on a boat which was intercepted by the Australian Navy in the first week of January.

He says that when Australian Navy personnel came on board two of the boat's three engines were broken and a third was damaged.

However, Mr Nooris has told the ABC the asylum seekers did not break the engines.

"There was two arguments happening at the time. The first argument was happening down in the engine room; I was up and down to get a bag that has my stuff.

"When I got down I was sprayed in my eyes."

Other asylum seekers have alleged that they were forced to hold onto hot pipes but the 20-year-old says he suffered burns on his hands because he was blinded after sailors responded with force, using some sort of spray.

Sorry, this video has expired Morrison rejects 'completely unsubstantiated' accusations against Navy personnel

"There was an argument do you understand. When they spray me in the eyes I couldn't see anything.

"While I was looking for a way out I stumble on the engine and my hand got burnt."

Mr Nooris says he then threw himself into the sea.

"I felt pain like chillies went into my eyes. I could not see anything, it was dark, and I threw myself into the sea."

He says he was pulled back on board, his hands were bandaged, but he was refused painkillers.

He and the other three asylum seekers say they are prepared to cooperate with any Australian investigation.

Use of personal defensive equipment is standard: Morrison

While not confirming the use of spray, Mr Morrison said in a statement that personal defensive equipment is standard issue in maritime operations.

"Such equipment is also commonly issued in domestic law enforcement across Australia," he said.

"Border Protection Command personnel are trained in the use of these devices consistent with the strict guidelines governing their use.

"If required, medical assistance is also provided to any persons who have been subjected to the use of this equipment.

Scars on Mr Nooris' hand. ( ABC News: George Roberts )

"The equipment is used, for example, to bring people under control when they are engaged in non-compliant, threatening behaviour to other passengers or crew.

He also says any claim that such devices were used in a manner outside standard procedure is baseless.

"Any suggestion that the appropriate use of such devices would in any way legitimise baseless and offensive allegations of torture, recently made against our Navy and Customs and Border Protection personnel by people who have admitted to seeking to illegally enter Australia, are also rejected outright."

Before the onboard altercation the 20-year-old secretly recorded some of the Australian sailors on his phone.

The ABC has viewed this footage and at least one sailor can be seen carrying a camera.

Mr Nooris and the other asylum seekers believe the Navy will have evidence.

The claims that Australian Navy personnel acted inappropriately first appeared in the Indonesian media on January 7.