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Seafarers Recruitment

Nigerian Seafarers: Documents, Recognition and Jobs

Nigerian seafarers work on coastal and offshore vessels serving the oil and gas industry, on tankers in West African trades and on international ships. Officers train at the Maritime Academy of Nigeria in Oron and at institutions abroad, including through the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme.

Certificates and seaman’s book in Nigeria

  • The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) is the maritime administration and issues Certificates of Competency.
  • For the seaman’s book and identity documents, check the current issuing office and requirements with NIMASA.
  • The Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act 2003 reserves domestic coastal trade to Nigerian vessels and crews, and offshore projects follow Nigerian content rules, so Nigerian crew are in demand on local offshore and coastal vessels.

STCW status and recognition by foreign flags

Nigeria is a Party to the STCW Convention and appears on the IMO list of Parties confirmed as giving full and complete effect to it (the “white list”, IMO circular MSC.1/Circ.1164 and its revisions). Check the latest revision before relying on it.

Foreign flags issue STCW Reg. I/10 endorsements on Nigerian CoCs after verification with NIMASA. Check each flag’s list of recognised countries before the contract.

What employers ask Nigerian seafarers for

  • NIMASA CoC with the flag endorsement for foreign-flag ships
  • For offshore work: OPITO BOSIET or FOET and the offshore medical the operator asks for
  • A yellow fever vaccination certificate (WHO international certificate), needed for many West African ports
  • Sea service records for the rank applied for, ideally on offshore or coastal vessels for local work

Endorsements and seaman’s books for foreign flags

Our partner International Ship Registry handles flag endorsements of CoCs (STCW Reg. I/10) and seaman’s books for ratings, for example the Belize seaman’s book, on behalf of seafarers and crewing agencies.

How to register

  1. Create a free seafarer account and confirm your email address.
  2. Choose Nigerian as nationality, then add your rank, sea service, CoC, STCW certificates, medical and seaman’s book, and upload copies.
  3. Make your profile visible to verified employers and apply to the jobs for your rank.

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Jobs by rank and ship type

Seafarers of other nationalities

Seafarers: see how Seafarers Recruitment works for seafarers. Employers and crewing agencies: post a vacancy or search crew.

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