NIMASA Automates Ship Registry To Boost Nigerian Flag Competitiveness

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has commenced the automation of the Nigerian Ship Registry as part of efforts to make the Nigerian flag more competitive, improve ship registration services and attract greater participation in the global shipping industry.

The Agency said the digital transformation of the registry would enable shipowners and other maritime stakeholders to access registration services round the clock while reducing administrative delays associated with conventional paper-based processes.

NIMASA will host a two-part stakeholder webinar on Tuesday, October 6, and Thursday, October 8, 2026, to showcase the ongoing automation and give industry players an opportunity to interact with the new digital platform.

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The webinars are expected to bring together shipowners, ship managers, maritime professionals, financial institutions, insurers, legal practitioners, classification societies and other stakeholders who use or have interests in ship registration and related services.

According to NIMASA, the automated system is designed to streamline application and approval processes, facilitate faster issuance of electronic certificates and improve the speed, transparency and efficiency of transactions with the Nigerian Ship Registry.

The platform will also provide secure, real-time tracking of ship mortgages and other registry transactions, a feature expected to improve transparency and provide greater visibility to financial institutions and other stakeholders involved in vessel financing.

The development is particularly significant for shipowners and investors, as efficient ship registration and transparent mortgage administration are critical to vessel financing, ownership transactions and the overall attractiveness of a national flag.

Speaking on the initiative, the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of NIMASA, Dr Dayo Mobereola, said the automation formed part of the Agency’s broader efforts to transform the Nigerian flag and create an enabling environment for increased participation in international shipping.

He said, “The automation of the Nigerian Ship Registry represents a significant step in our commitment to providing efficient, transparent and globally competitive services to shipowners and other maritime stakeholders. Our objective is to make the Nigerian flag more accessible, responsive and attractive through technology-driven processes that meet international standards.”

The Agency said the new system would make interactions with the Nigerian Ship Registry more seamless for both local and international shipowners while strengthening NIMASA’s capacity to provide responsive and globally competitive flag-state services.

It added that the platform is currently undergoing user testing, with the exercise focused on validating its functionality, security and user experience ahead of its official deployment.

NIMASA said the stakeholder webinars would also enable participants to understand the platform’s key features, experience its functionality and provide feedback that would help refine the system before full implementation.

The automation is expected to reduce reliance on paper-based documentation and improve the efficiency of ship registration and certification processes, potentially reducing turnaround time for shipowners and other industry users.

The Agency urged stakeholders across the maritime value chain to participate in the webinars as it moves towards the full deployment of the automated Nigerian Ship Registry.

The webinars will hold on Tuesday, October 6, and Thursday, October 8, 2026, with further details on the access link and programme to be released through NIMASA’s official communication channels.