Sources last checked 2026-11-05. This guide explains published requirements and is not legal advice; NIMASA’s current instructions always come first.
Wholly Nigerian owned vessel
- Relevant Cabotage application forms
- Certificate of Nigerian Registry
- Detailed crew list
- Certificate of minimum safe manning
- Evidence of the company’s registration with NIMASA
- Certified true copies of CAC 2 and CAC 7
Bareboat chartered vessel
- Relevant Cabotage application forms
- Certificate of Registry
- Detailed crew list
- Certificate of minimum safe manning
- Charter-party agreement
- Memorandum and articles of association
- Certificate of incorporation
- Current tax clearance certificate
- Certified true copies of CAC 2 and CAC 7
- Evidence of the company’s registration with NIMASA
Joint venture vessel
- Relevant Cabotage application forms
- Certificate of Registry
- Detailed crew list
- Certificate of minimum safe manning
- Evidence of the company’s registration with NIMASA
- Certified true copies of CAC 2 and CAC 3
- Joint venture agreement
- Certificate of incorporation
- Memorandum and articles of association
- Current tax clearance certificate
Foreign owned vessel (Cabotage licence)
NIMASA lists, among other things: the application form; certificate of registry and declaration of ownership; crew declaration form; tonnage, safety, safe manning, ISM, load line, survey, safety radio and classification certificates; current insurance; the company’s incorporation papers, CAC forms and tax clearance; evidence of registration as a shipping company with NIMASA; proof of payment of registration fees; and an undertaking to train a prescribed number of Nigerian cadets.
Renewing a waiver (every year)
- Formal letter of application and completed waiver forms sworn at a Federal High Court, with the Cabotage affidavit form
- Certificate of registry, detailed crew list signed and stamped by the master, and minimum safe manning certificate
- Incorporation papers and CAC forms showing share capital of not less than ₦25 million
- Current tax clearance and evidence of registration as a shipping company with NIMASA
- Evidence of 2% surcharge payment and of Nigerian cadet training
- Evidence of dry-docking (if applicable) and a survey report for newly imported vessels
- Joint venture or bareboat charter agreement where relevant (bareboat: five years or more)
- Completed Maritime Labour Declaration form
The 2% surcharge
Section 43 of the Cabotage Act imposes a surcharge of 2% of the contract sum on vessels engaged in coastal trade. NIMASA processes it against the charter-party agreement, invoices on contracts performed and, for coastal product tankers, the cargo manifest and bill of lading.
Keep every document in date
On Gulfdeck each vessel company keeps its own Nigerian compliance register: choose how a vessel trades, record each certificate and its expiry date, and get reminders 30 days before anything expires. The checklist is a guide; your company remains responsible for its own compliance.