Ship Registration

INTRODUCTION

Article 91 of UNCLOS 111(1982) requires every state to issue ships which it has granted the rights to fly its flag a document to that effect which is known as the “certificate of registry”. The Nigerian Ship Registration Office (NSRO) is empowered to register ships in accordance with the following Acts:

I. Merchant Shipping Act. S. 5-81 (part ii & iii)

II. NIMASA Act 2007 S. 28-32 (part viii)

III. Coastal and Inland Shipping Act S. 22-28 (part v)

Types of Ship Registration

Provisional Registration:
Flag Registration
Bareboat Registration (Flag/Cabotage)
Cabotage Registration (Wholly Nigerian Owned, Joint Venture, Foreign Category) Registers Maintained by the Nigerian Ship Registry
Register for merchant ships.
Register for fishing vessels.
Register for ships under construction.
Register for ship under the bareboat charter and other charters exceeding 12 months
Register of licensed ships below 15 gross tons.
Register for Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) and Floating Storage and Offloading (FSO).
Special Cabotage Register for Wholly Nigerian Owned Vessels.
Special Cabotage Register for Bareboat Chartered Vessels.
Special Cabotage Register for Foreign-Owned Vessels
Register of Boats with Engine of 200 Horse-Power and Above.

APPLICANT’S GUIDE

LEARN HOW TO REGISTER WITH THE NIGERIAN SHIP REGISTRATION OFFICE

STEP 1- Send an application to the Director-General with all supporting documents required for your request (Check the requirement page)

STEP 2- Liaise with the Nigerian Ship Registry Office for payment of the required fees.

STEP 3- Pick up your certificate/ document from the Nigerian Ship Registry Office

MINIMUM SHARE CAPITAL FOR VESSEL OWNERS (COMPANIES ONLY)

The minimum share capital for any vessel owned by a Nigerian company is N25,000,000.00

RESERVATION AND APPROVAL OF SHIP NAMES

The Application for Registration allows an owner to specify a preferred name for a ship and any alternatives, should the preferred name be unavailable. It is also possible to check on name availability before submitting the application and to reserve preferred names. This can be done by visiting the Nigerian Ship Registration Office.

A proposed name may be refused for any of the following reasons:

It is already the name of a Nigerian registered ship
It is a name so similar to an existing name that it could pass off as belonging to the same owner.
It is likely to cause offence or embarrassment to the flag.
It is calculated to deceive or offend the public interest.
Reservation of name is for a 60 days period after which the name shall lapse.

SCHEDULE OF FORMS

Find all the forms you need HERE

CONTACT US:

All official correspondence should be addressed to: The Director General/CEO

Nigerian Maritime Administration & Safety Agency

4, Burma Road, Apapa Lagos, Nigeria
Email: registrarofships@nimasa.gov.ng

Further documentation to be submitted to:

Registrar of Ships
Nigerian Ship Registration Office 4, Burma Road, Apapa.Lagos, Nigeria.

Email: registrarofships@nimasa.gov.ng