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Trade & mobilityMaritimeNigeria

Register a ship / vessel (NIMASA)

Register a vessel on the Nigerian Ship Registry (incl. cabotage): confirm eligibility → apply to NIMASA's Director-General → pay registry fees → collect the certificate.

Procedure
4steps
Coordination
3agencies
Category
Trade & mobilityMaritime
Task links

Go to the exact next page

Application, requirements, forms, fees, and tracking are labelled separately.

RequirementsRead the Nigerian Maritime Administration & Safety Agency (NIMASA) service pageNigerian Maritime Administration & Safety Agency (NIMASA) · nimasa.gov.ng
Routing map

Who you will deal with

Nigerian Maritime Administration & Safety Agency (NIMASA)NIMASA — Nigerian Ship Registry Office (NSRO)NIMASA — Ship Registry
Procedure

The steps, in order

Each route below is scoped to the step it can actually complete.

  1. 01

    Confirm eligibility and registration path

    Agency
    Nigerian Maritime Administration & Safety Agency (NIMASA)
    What is required
    Determine the path under the Cabotage Act 2003 (wholly Nigerian-owned, bareboat, joint venture, or foreign by waiver); the vessel must satisfy class/annual survey and insurance requirements.
    Documents
    Ownership structure; class certificates; insurance
    Typical timeline
    Scoping
    Use for this step
  2. 02

    Apply to the Director-General (Ship Registry)

    Agency
    NIMASA — Nigerian Ship Registry Office (NSRO)
    What is required
    Submit the application with supporting documents (ownership, tonnage, class, insurance, company licensing).
    Documents
    Application; ownership & class docs; company licence
    Typical timeline
    Application stage
    Use for this step
  3. 03

    Pay the registry fees

    Agency
    NIMASA — Ship Registry
    What is required
    Flag registration from ₦100,000 (15-200 tons); cabotage registration ₦50,000 (Nigerian, 1-1,000 GRT) or USD 1,000 (foreign); provisional FPSO/FSO ₦500,000.
    Documents
    Fee payment
    Typical timeline
    On assessment
    Use for this step
  4. 04

    Collect the certificate

    Agency
    NIMASA — Ship Registry
    What is required
    Collect the registration certificate from the NSRO. A straightforward new registration is typically 4-8 weeks.
    Documents
    Paid fees; complete file
    Typical timeline
    ~4-8 weeks
    Use for this step
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