The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has stepped up enforcement of the Cabotage regime, warning shipowners, operators, charterers and other stakeholders against deploying vessels that fail to meet statutory requirements for participation in Nigeria’s coastal and inland shipping trade.
The agency said the move was aimed at strengthening indigenous participation in the maritime sector and ensuring that jobs and economic opportunities created under the Cabotage regime are retained for Nigerians.
According to a statement by NIMASA’s Head of Public Relations, Osagie Edward on Wednesday, this was contained in a Marine Notice issued 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, as well as relevant Cabotage regulations and implementing guidelines.
Under the enhanced enforcement regime, 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.
The agency further requires all vessels, owners, operators, charterers, managers and other stakeholders engaged in Cabotage activities to maintain valid statutory certificates, licences, 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 statement said.
The agency said it would continue to monitor compliance with the Cabotage Act, its regulations and applicable guidelines, stressing that the move was aimed at entrenching maritime governance and ensuring that jobs meant for Nigerians are not outsourced.
The Marine Notice takes immediate effect, with NIMASA reaffirming its 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.
