NIMASA Threatens Cabotage Vessel wners

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA has directed vessels trading on Nigerian coastal and inland to register with it within three months, failure which they will be barred.

The top maritime agency also directed vessel owners with expired registration certificates to renew their Cabotage Operational Certificate/License for all Cabotage vessels within the same period or face sanctions.

NIMASA, in an ultimatum given to the vessel owners, said at the expiration of the three months, it would notify relevant government authorities and International Oil Companies (IOCs) to bar vessels without valid cabotage certificates.

The Director-General of NIMASA, Bashir Jamoh, disclosed that the directive was part of efforts to ensure strict compliance with the Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act 2003 and Guidelines on Implementation of the Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act 2003, which requires that every vessel intended for use in domestic trade must be duly registered by the Registrar of Ships.

Jamoh said “The law provides that every vessel intended for use under the Cabotage Act must be duly registered in the appropriate register and the operational certificates be renewed annually. We are out to ensure strict implementation of NIMASA’s mandate under the law.

“Ultimately, our intention is to build and continue to enhance the capacity of Nigerians in the shipping industry in line with relevant international regulations.”