March 19, 2024

NIMASA GOES TOUGH ON CABOTAGE REGISTRATION ISSUES ULTIMATUM

Dr Bashir Jimoh

Dr Bashir Jimoh

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The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has issued a three month ultimatum to companies engaged in Cabotage trade in Nigeria to register all vessels used in coastal and inland water trade. In addition to this registration, Vessels and Ship Owning companies are to obtain the Certificate of Cabotage Registration/License, operators with expired registration certificates are also mandated to ensure the renewal of their cabotage Operational Certificate/License for all Cabotage vessels within three months.

At the expiration of the three months, NIMASA would notify relevant government authorities and International Oil Companies (IOCs) to bar vessels without valid Cabotage certificates.

Speaking shortly after the Agency released a Marine Notice to announce the decision, Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, disclosed that the notice was part of efforts to ensure strict enforcement of the Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act 2003 and Guidelines on Implementation of the Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act 2003.

Jamoh reiterated that the Cabotage Act provided that every vessel intended for use in domestic trade must be duly registered by the Registrar of Ships.

According to the NIMASA DG, “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, he stressed.

Speaking further, Jamo pledged to continue to uphold international conventions which have to do with building capacity for Nigerians in the shipping industry, “ultimately our intention is to build and continue to enhance the capacity of Nigerians in the shipping industry in line with relevant international regulations.

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