Ship Registry: Shipping Association Transfers All Vessels To Nigerian Flag

Nigeria’s fledging ship registry has received a boost following a decision by Shipping Association of Nigeria (SAN) to embrace Nigeria flag and ensure that all the associations’ vessels fly Nigerian flag.
Announcing the decision recently while paying a courtesy visit to the management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) in Lagos, the president of SAN, Mr Emeka Ndu disclosed that the decision was based on recent developments in the Nigerian maritime industry.  Membership of the Shipping Association of Nigeria is drawn mainly from ship owners servicing the upstream sector of the Nigerian oil and gas industry.
“We are happy about achievements of NIMASA in the past eight months and this has served as an incentive for us to desire to be 100 per cent compliant with Cabotage requirements. As a result of the positive flow from NIMASA, we have decided to transfer all our vessels unto the Nigerian Ship registry”, he stressed.
Receiving the ship owners, the director general of NIMASA Mr. Temisan Omatseye described the decision of SAN to transfer all its Vessels to the Nigerian Ship Registry as a major milestone in the relationship between NIMASA and SAN.
While assuring members of the Association that they will not regret their decision to fly the Nigerian Flag, Mr Omatseye urged them to always liaise with the agency in case of any challenge they may face.
He restated the agency’s commitment to making the Nigerian Ship Registry world class, even as he announced that NIMASA is set to disburse the Cabotage Vessel Finance Fund (CVVF), but assured that the agency  will ensure that indigenous operators compete favourably with their foreign counterparts for business.
According to him “Though the maritime industry is matured, its still in the infancy stage for Nigerians; Its time for Nigerians to take over the business in the nation’s maritime sector. The issue of the Cabotage Vessel Finance Fund is key to our heart. As much as we are ready to disburse the Fund, NIMASA is also committed to ensure the availability of business for our indigenous operators. This is why we want our ship registry to be first class”