Requirements For The issuance of Cabotage Waivers | NIMASA
Source: https://nimasa.gov.ng/services/cabotage-services/requirements-for-the-issuance-of-cabotage-waivers
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:18
Requirements For The issuance of Cabotage Waivers | NIMASA
+234 02016309590, +234 02016309591, +234 02016309592
info@nimasa.gov.ng
Requirements for the Issuance of Cabotage Waiver
GENERAL STAKEHOLDERS CONFERENCE ON THE IMPLEMENTATION AND GOV. Sections 9 – 11 of the Coastal and Inland Shipping Cabotage Act, 2003 states that to participate in the Cabotage trade a vessel must be registered under one of the following categories;
Wholly Nigerian Owned:
Relevant Cabotage application forms
Certificate of Nigerian Registry
Detailed crew list
Certificate of minimum safe manning
Evidence of registration of company with NIMASA
Certified true copies of form CAC 2 and CAC 7
Bare Boat Charter Vessel:
Relevant Cabotage application forms
Certificate of Registry
Detailed crew list
Certificate of minimum safe manning
Charter-party agreement
Memorandum and article of association
Certificate of incorporation
Current tax clearance certificate
A certified true copy from CAC2, CAC7
Evidence of registration of the company with NIMASA
Cabotage Licence For Foreign Vessels:
Application form
Copy of certificate of registry
Declaration of ownership certificate
Completed crew declaration form
Cabotage licence
Certificate of tonnage measurement
Passenger ship safety certificate
Cargo ship safety certificate
Ship safety equipment certificate
Certificate of minimum safe manning
International safety management certificate
Load line certificate
Survey certificate
Safety radio certificate
Classification certificate
Copy of current certificate of vessel insurance
Certificate of incorporation
Memorandum and article of association
Certified true copy (CTC) of forms CAC7 and CAC2
Current tax clearance certificate
Evidence of registration of shipping company with NIMASA
Proof of payment of registration fees
Undertaking to train a prescribed number of Nigerian cadets.
Requirements for the Processing of 2% Surcharge on Contract Performed:
Charter party agreement (CPA)
Invoices on contracts performed
Cargo Manifest and Bill of Lading for billing on Coastal Product Tankers
Self-assessment (above applicable)
Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) Procedures/Requirement for Applications:
The underlisted are required by the applicants seeking for CVFF loan:
Section 3.2 of the CVFF Guidelines specifically state that only Nigerian citizens and shipping companies wholly owned by Nigerian citizens as defined by the Act shall be eligible to apply and benefit from the scheme.
To qualify for loan or guarantee under the scheme, in addition to any other requirements set out in the fund or NIMASA, an applicant shall:
(a) Prepare suitable feasibility reports which shall be subject to independent verification by NIMASA and the PLIs;
(b) Pay all registration fees, e.g. registration as a shipping company with NIMASA Cabotage registration etc, and Nigerian flag;
(c) Provide acceptable equity participation as required for each project application;
(d) Satisfactory managerial and operational ability;
(e) Agree with the Primary Lending Institution (PLIs) in the involvement in the loan requested
(f) Provide acceptable security/collateral.
(g) Provide other requirements the fund may demand.
The applications should include and not limited to:
Name of the company
Address of company/E-mail
Year of incorporation/registration number
Amount and tenure of the loan
Number/type/size of the vessel to be procured
Other cabotage investment(specify)
Company share capital
Level of maritime activities
Number of vessels owned
The existing contract with international oil companies if any
Benefits of investment to Nigerian cabotage regime Maximum of USD25m
Indicate preferred PLIs (Bank)
Diamond
Fidelity
Skye
Sterling
Ten copies of applications forwarded to be submitted to the office of the Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration & Safety Agency 4, Burma Road Apapa, Lagos.
2% Analysis Unit:
Joint Venture Vessel:
Relevant Cabotage application forms
Certificate of Registry
Detailed crew list
Certificate of minimum safe manning
Evidence of registration of company with NIMASA
A certified true copy of form CAC 2 and CAC 3
Joint venture agreement
Certificate of incorporation
Memorandum and article of association
Current tax clearance certificate
Foreign Owned:
(as classified in the three groups viz 1, 2, 3 Ref: Pg. 28-31 of the Cabotage Implementation Guidelines based on gross tonnage.): Documents required are:
Relevant Cabotage application forms
Certificate of Registry
Detailed crew list
Certificate of minimum safe manning
Customs TI
Memorandum and Article of Association
Certificate of Incorporation
Current tax clearance certificate
Certified true copy of form CAC2 and CAC3
Requirements For Renewal Of Waivers:
Formal Letter of Application by the owner or authorized representative
Completed Cabotage Waiver application Forms on oath in a Federal High Court
Cabotage Affidavit Form
Foreign Certificate of Registry FOR FOREIGN Vessels, Nigerian Ship
Registry Certificate for Joint Venture,
Bareboat and Wholly Nigerian Owned category.
Detailed Crew List duly signed and stamped by the Master
Minimum Safe Manning Certificate
Certificate of Incorporation
Memorandum and Articles of Association
CAC 2 & CAC 7 for Wholly Nigerian
Owned Vessel(s), specifying a share capital of not less than N25Million
CAC 2 & CAC 3 for Joint Venture/Bareboat/Foreign Vessel(s), specifying a share capital of N25Million
Current Tax Clearance Certificate
Evidence of registration as a Shipping Company with NIMASA
Evidence of 2% Surcharge payment
Evidence of Nigerian Cadet Training
Evidence of Dry-Docking (If applicable)
Copy of Survey Report for newly imported Vessels
Joint Venture agreement for joint Venture application only.
Bareboat Charter agreement for
Bareboat charter specifying a period of five (5) years and above
Bill of sale or evidence of ownership for wholly Nigerian owned vessels or
Nigeria Ship registry Certificate
Completed Maritime Labour Declaration Form
Checklist Of Documents Expected On-board A Coastal Vessel:
Vessel Log Book
Vessel Port of Call
Vessel Particulars (registry certificates, Safety Equipment
Certificates, Safe manning
Certificates, Builders certificate, Load line Certificates, Tonnage Certificates, Radio Certificate, Insurance Certificates, Classification Certificates, Passenger Ship Safety Certificate, Survey Certificate, Cargo
Ship Safety Certificate.
Waiver Certificate/ Receipts
Trade And Development Unit:
ENFORCEMENT/DETENTION:
Documents required for the release of a detained vessel are:
Letter of undertaking by defaulting owner/operator to comply with the Cabotage Act
Receipt of payment for relevant waiver fees and 2% surcharge Release order
Finance Unit:
PAYMENT PROCEDURE:
Collect Demand/Debit Note and Draft from Cabotage Department
Collect and complete a PAF from Financial Services Department (it should be checked, stamped and registered)
Make payment to designated bank
Present evidence of payment from the bank to Financial Services department and obtain a receipt on confirmation of payment from the bank.
NIMASA Contact Centre
+234 02016309590, +234 02016309591, +234 02016309592
info@nimasa.gov.ng
Requirements for the Issuance of Cabotage Waiver
GENERAL STAKEHOLDERS CONFERENCE ON THE IMPLEMENTATION AND GOV. Sections 9 – 11 of the Coastal and Inland Shipping Cabotage Act, 2003 states that to participate in the Cabotage trade a vessel must be registered under one of the following categories;
Wholly Nigerian Owned:
Relevant Cabotage application forms
Certificate of Nigerian Registry
Detailed crew list
Certificate of minimum safe manning
Evidence of registration of company with NIMASA
Certified true copies of form CAC 2 and CAC 7
Bare Boat Charter Vessel:
Relevant Cabotage application forms
Certificate of Registry
Detailed crew list
Certificate of minimum safe manning
Charter-party agreement
Memorandum and article of association
Certificate of incorporation
Current tax clearance certificate
A certified true copy from CAC2, CAC7
Evidence of registration of the company with NIMASA
Cabotage Licence For Foreign Vessels:
Application form
Copy of certificate of registry
Declaration of ownership certificate
Completed crew declaration form
Cabotage licence
Certificate of tonnage measurement
Passenger ship safety certificate
Cargo ship safety certificate
Ship safety equipment certificate
Certificate of minimum safe manning
International safety management certificate
Load line certificate
Survey certificate
Safety radio certificate
Classification certificate
Copy of current certificate of vessel insurance
Certificate of incorporation
Memorandum and article of association
Certified true copy (CTC) of forms CAC7 and CAC2
Current tax clearance certificate
Evidence of registration of shipping company with NIMASA
Proof of payment of registration fees
Undertaking to train a prescribed number of Nigerian cadets.
Requirements for the Processing of 2% Surcharge on Contract Performed:
Charter party agreement (CPA)
Invoices on contracts performed
Cargo Manifest and Bill of Lading for billing on Coastal Product Tankers
Self-assessment (above applicable)
Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) Procedures/Requirement for Applications:
The underlisted are required by the applicants seeking for CVFF loan:
Section 3.2 of the CVFF Guidelines specifically state that only Nigerian citizens and shipping companies wholly owned by Nigerian citizens as defined by the Act shall be eligible to apply and benefit from the scheme.
To qualify for loan or guarantee under the scheme, in addition to any other requirements set out in the fund or NIMASA, an applicant shall:
(a) Prepare suitable feasibility reports which shall be subject to independent verification by NIMASA and the PLIs;
(b) Pay all registration fees, e.g. registration as a shipping company with NIMASA Cabotage registration etc, and Nigerian flag;
(c) Provide acceptable equity participation as required for each project application;
(d) Satisfactory managerial and operational ability;
(e) Agree with the Primary Lending Institution (PLIs) in the involvement in the loan requested
(f) Provide acceptable security/collateral.
(g) Provide other requirements the fund may demand.
The applications should include and not limited to:
Name of the company
Address of company/E-mail
Year of incorporation/registration number
Amount and tenure of the loan
Number/type/size of the vessel to be procured
Other cabotage investment(specify)
Company share capital
Level of maritime activities
Number of vessels owned
The existing contract with international oil companies if any
Benefits of investment to Nigerian cabotage regime Maximum of USD25m
Indicate preferred PLIs (Bank)
Diamond
Fidelity
Skye
Sterling
Ten copies of applications forwarded to be submitted to the office of the Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration & Safety Agency 4, Burma Road Apapa, Lagos.
2% Analysis Unit:
Joint Venture Vessel:
Relevant Cabotage application forms
Certificate of Registry
Detailed crew list
Certificate of minimum safe manning
Evidence of registration of company with NIMASA
A certified true copy of form CAC 2 and CAC 3
Joint venture agreement
Certificate of incorporation
Memorandum and article of association
Current tax clearance certificate
Foreign Owned:
(as classified in the three groups viz 1, 2, 3 Ref: Pg. 28-31 of the Cabotage Implementation Guidelines based on gross tonnage.): Documents required are:
Relevant Cabotage application forms
Certificate of Registry
Detailed crew list
Certificate of minimum safe manning
Customs TI
Memorandum and Article of Association
Certificate of Incorporation
Current tax clearance certificate
Certified true copy of form CAC2 and CAC3
Requirements For Renewal Of Waivers:
Formal Letter of Application by the owner or authorized representative
Completed Cabotage Waiver application Forms on oath in a Federal High Court
Cabotage Affidavit Form
Foreign Certificate of Registry FOR FOREIGN Vessels, Nigerian Ship
Registry Certificate for Joint Venture,
Bareboat and Wholly Nigerian Owned category.
Detailed Crew List duly signed and stamped by the Master
Minimum Safe Manning Certificate
Certificate of Incorporation
Memorandum and Articles of Association
CAC 2 & CAC 7 for Wholly Nigerian
Owned Vessel(s), specifying a share capital of not less than N25Million
CAC 2 & CAC 3 for Joint Venture/Bareboat/Foreign Vessel(s), specifying a share capital of N25Million
Current Tax Clearance Certificate
Evidence of registration as a Shipping Company with NIMASA
Evidence of 2% Surcharge payment
Evidence of Nigerian Cadet Training
Evidence of Dry-Docking (If applicable)
Copy of Survey Report for newly imported Vessels
Joint Venture agreement for joint Venture application only.
Bareboat Charter agreement for
Bareboat charter specifying a period of five (5) years and above
Bill of sale or evidence of ownership for wholly Nigerian owned vessels or
Nigeria Ship registry Certificate
Completed Maritime Labour Declaration Form
Checklist Of Documents Expected On-board A Coastal Vessel:
Vessel Log Book
Vessel Port of Call
Vessel Particulars (registry certificates, Safety Equipment
Certificates, Safe manning
Certificates, Builders certificate, Load line Certificates, Tonnage Certificates, Radio Certificate, Insurance Certificates, Classification Certificates, Passenger Ship Safety Certificate, Survey Certificate, Cargo
Ship Safety Certificate.
Waiver Certificate/ Receipts
Trade And Development Unit:
ENFORCEMENT/DETENTION:
Documents required for the release of a detained vessel are:
Letter of undertaking by defaulting owner/operator to comply with the Cabotage Act
Receipt of payment for relevant waiver fees and 2% surcharge Release order
Finance Unit:
PAYMENT PROCEDURE:
Collect Demand/Debit Note and Draft from Cabotage Department
Collect and complete a PAF from Financial Services Department (it should be checked, stamped and registered)
Make payment to designated bank
Present evidence of payment from the bank to Financial Services department and obtain a receipt on confirmation of payment from the bank.
NIMASA Contact Centre