Merchant Shipping (Disqualification of Holder of Seafarer's Certificates) Regulations 2010

Regulations define grounds and procedures for suspending or revoking seafarers' certificates due to incompetence or misconduct. They target ship owners, seafarers, and maritime authorities. This maintains safety standards in Nigeria's shipping industry.

What Is This Policy?

Regulations defining the grounds and procedures for suspending or revoking seafarer certificates of competency, including incompetence, misconduct, and health-related disqualification.

Who Does It Target?

Ship owners and operators Seafarers and maritime professionals Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Port authorities

What Does It Aim to Achieve?

Maintain maritime safety standards by removing unfit or unqualified seafarers from active service.

Key Features

Grounds: Incompetence, misconduct, medical unfitness, and fraud in obtaining certificates Due Process: Investigation, hearing, and right of appeal before disqualification Reinstatement: Conditions for restoring certificates after disqualification

Current Status

Rollout Stage: Active Coverage: All Nigerian-flagged vessels and vessels in Nigerian waters Lead Agency: NIMASA

How to Access

Ship owners and operators must comply. Seafarers maintain competency and fitness standards Report concerns about seafarer conduct to NIMASA

Official Resources

Website: nimasa.gov.ng Contact: NIMASA, Lagos

Legal Framework

The Merchant Shipping (Disqualification of Seafarers) Regulations 2010 are issued under the Merchant Shipping Act 2007 by NIMASA. They align with the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW Convention), the IMO SOLAS Convention, and the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC 2006) on seafarer competency and certification standards. The Flag State Implementation guidelines from the IMO provide administrative context.