NIMASA Cracks Down on Non-Compliance With Cabotage Rules

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has commenced moves to strengthen compliance with Nigeria’s Cabotage regime by tightening enforcement of requirements designed to promote indigenous participation in coastal and inland shipping.

The agency said the move is in line with its statutory responsibility to enforce relevant maritime laws, including the NIMASA Act 2007, the Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act 2003, as well as existing Cabotage regulations and implementation guidelines.

In a marine notice, NIMASA directed individuals and organisations seeking to deploy vessels for cabotage operations to ensure that such vessels comply with Nigeria’s requirements on ownership, registration, manning and construction.

In a statement by Mr Edward Osagie, a Deputy Director and Head of Public Relations, NIMASA also stressed that vessels and ship-owning companies involved in Cabotage trade must be duly registered in the Special Register for Vessels and Ship Owning Companies Engaged in Cabotage category.

“The Agency further requires all vessels, owners, operators, charterers, managers and other stakeholders engaged in Cabotage activities to maintain valid statutory certificates, licenses, registrations and other required documentation.

“Cabotage vessels must, as applicable, be wholly owned by Nigerian citizens, duly registered in the relevant Special Register, manned by Nigerian citizens and built in Nigeria. Deployment of vessels that do not meet these requirements may only be considered where the requisite Nigerian capacity is unavailable, and the statutory conditions have been established and verified by NIMASA.

“The Agency will continue to monitor compliance with the Cabotage Act, its regulations and applicable guidelines, in a bid to entrench maritime governance and ensure that jobs meant for Nigerians are not outsourced.

“The Marine Notice, which takes immediate effect further reinforces NIMASA’s commitment to promoting indigenous participation in local and international shipping trade, developing local maritime capacity and ensuring that Cabotage operations contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s maritime and economic development.”