The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency has commenced the issuance of new certificates of ship registration while simultaneously phasing out the old permits.

This is in a bid to ensure the utilisation of secured statutory certificates and prevent the entry of unsea worthy and sub-standard ships into the Nigerian flag.

According to a statement issued by the Head, Corporate Communications, Edward Osagie, the Director General of the Agency, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, said: “We are restructuring the Nigerian Ship Registration Office to serve you more efficiently and effectively. We are determined to grow our national fleet and tonnage to an enviable height.

“We are committed to ensuring that our Ship Registry remains of International Standard and this is why we have enhanced our certificates with more security features that would stand the test of time. The all-encompassing process of issuance will ensure robust screening of vessels that would visit our waters.”

The new regulation, which took effect from July 1, involves the Certificate of Nigerian Registry, Provisional Certificate of Registry, Certificate of Nigerian Registry for Bareboat Chartered Vessel, Fishing Boat and Certificate of Cabotage Ship Registry for Wholly Owned Nigerian Vessel, among others.

The Certificate of Cabotage Ship Registry for Bareboat Chartered Vessel and Foreign Owned Vessels are also affected.

Others are Certificate of Cabotage Ship Registry for Joint Venture Owned Vessel, Deletion Certificate, Bill of Sale and Transcript of Registry.

The managing director said that the issuance of the certificates was in fulfilment of Section 30 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 2007.

The Act provides: “The Registrar of Ships should on completion of registration of a ship, issue a certificate of registration in such form as may be approved by the agency.