Cabotage: NIMASA Insists on Valid Statutory Certificates, licenses, Other Documentation
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) in a marine notice has announced enhanced enforcement of the statutory requirements for indigenous participation in Nigeria’s Cabotage trade and maritime activities.
This disclosure according to Osagie Edward, FNIPR Deputy Director/Head, Public Relations is pursuant to the Agency’s statutory mandate of implementing applicable laws including the NIMASA Act 2007 and the Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act 2003, in addition to the Cabotage regulations and implementing guidelines.
According Osagie Edward, “this is pursuant to the Agency’s statutory role, under the enhanced enforcement regime where all persons and entities requiring vessels for Cabotage operations are required to use vessels that meet applicable Nigerian ownership, registration, manning and construction requirements and are duly registered in the Special Register for Vessels and Ship Owning Companies Engaged in Cabotage”.
Going by the press statement by NIMASA, all vessels, owners, operators, charterers, managers and other stakeholders engaged in Cabotage activities are required to maintain valid statutory certificates, licenses, registrations and other required documentation.
It would be recalled that the cabotage law requires that “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”.
The Agency’s press statement further says that ” 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”.
Hence, the Agency says it 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.