NIMASA Goes Digital: Nigerian Ship Registry Set for Faster, More Transparent Services

As part of the transition, NIMASA will hold a two-part stakeholder webinar on Tuesday, October 6 and Thursday, October 8, 2026, to demonstrate the new digital platform and give industry players an opportunity to understand how the system will change the way ships are registered under the Nigerian flag.

The initiative is part of the Agency’s wider effort to modernise the Nigerian Ship Registry, improve service delivery and make the Nigerian flag more competitive in the global shipping market.

Under the new system, shipowners and other users will have access to registration services 24 hours a day, seven days a week, removing some of the limitations associated with conventional paper-based processes.

Applications and approvals will be handled digitally, while electronic certificates can be issued faster, reducing delays and making the entire registration process easier to follow.

For shipowners, operators and maritime professionals, the attraction is not only speed.

The new platform is also designed to bring greater transparency to ship registration transactions, particularly in an area that is critical to vessel financing—the registration and tracking of ship mortgages.

The system will provide secure, real-time visibility of mortgage transactions and other registry activities, giving financial institutions, insurers and other stakeholders better access to information when making decisions around vessel financing.

This is expected to strengthen confidence in the Nigerian Ship Registry and make it easier for local and international shipowners to interact with the Agency.

Speaking on the development, NIMASA Director-General/Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, said the automation of the Ship Registry was a major part of the Agency’s plan to transform the Nigerian flag and create a more business-friendly maritime environment.

“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,” Mobereola said.

The platform is currently undergoing user testing, with NIMASA focusing on its functionality, security and ease of use before full deployment.

The forthcoming webinars are therefore expected to serve two purposes: introducing stakeholders to the new system and allowing the Agency to receive feedback before the platform becomes fully operational.

Shipowners, ship managers, maritime professionals, financial institutions, insurers, legal practitioners, classification societies and other stakeholders have been invited to participate.

The move comes at a time when flag administrations around the world are increasingly relying on digital systems to provide faster and more reliable services to the shipping industry.

For Nigeria, the bigger ambition is to make the country’s flag more attractive to shipowners and strengthen the position of the Nigerian Ship Registry in the international maritime space.

If successfully implemented, the automated registry could mean less paperwork, faster approvals, easier access to certificates and greater confidence in transactions involving Nigerian-flagged vessels.

The October webinars will offer stakeholders a first-hand look at that transition as NIMASA works towards full implementation of the platform.

Webinar dates:
Tuesday, October 6, 2026
Thursday, October 8, 2026
Further information, including the access link and programme, will be released through NIMASA’s official communication channels.

The message from the Agency is clear: the Nigerian Ship Registry is moving online, and the goal is to make the Nigerian flag faster, more transparent and more competitive.