NIMASA automates ship registration verification

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) said it has commenced electronic verification of new ship registry to eliminate foreign dominance of the shipping sector.

With this, the new Ship Registry Certificates now have Quick Response Codes (QR Codes) embedded in them to enable Ship-owners, Stakeholders and Regulatory Agency’s Enforcement officers to verify the validity of the certificates.

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A statement by the Assistant Head of Public Relations, Osagie Edward, said it has commenced the enforcement of full compliance with the marine environment protection statutory requirements and documentation on Nigerian and foreign-flagged vessels operating within the country’s maritime domain.

All ship owners and operators are now required by law to update their vessel documentation, which include all permits or exemptions, levies, record books and plan approvals. This is also a pre-condition for further processing of any vessel or company requests with the Agency.

NIMASA would mete out sanctions to operators who fail to comply with the relevant requirements, it warned.

In the statement, the Director-General of NIMASA, Bashir Jamoh, said: “The Agency has adopted technology to guarantee more security for our documents and give stakeholders and the international shipping community greater confidence in our services.”

The Registrar of Ships, Mrs Nneka Obiayor, said security and business facilitation were the chief considerations in the introduction of the electronic verification of new Ship Registry Certificates.