The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) says it will soon embark on an aggressive recovery of all debts and levies owed it by ship owners, ship operators and ship agents trading on Nigerian waters.
The agency, which stated this in a Marine Notice issued on Thursday, said it will be working with a debt recovery agent, Bulls Plus Limited, to recover money due to it from 2004 to date.
“Pursuant to the Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act 2003, NIMASA is charged with the responsibility of enforcing the provisions of the Act through its Cabotage Services Department and the under-mentioned legislations are considered in the enforcement of the Act:
“Merchant Shipping Act 2007; Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act 2003; Coastal and lnland Shipping Cabotage (Bareboat Registration) Regulation 2006; Coastal and Inland Shipping Cabotage (Detention of Ships) Regulation 2006; Guidelines on implementation of Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act 2003,” NIMASA said in the Marine Notice.
The agency said concerned ship owners and ship agents that make “voluntary declaration and remittance of these debts within the next 30 days shall attract no penalties and/or sanctions”.
“Thereafter, NIMASA and her accredited agents shall enforce full recovery of these debts, including instituting legal action for acts of economic sabotage,” it added.