Ship Registration in Cameroon

Ship registration is an essential and necessary part of the use and operation of ships in Cameroonian  and international waters; 

The CEMAC Merchant Shipping Code as amended on August 22, 2012, is the law governing the registration of vessels in the country and is administered by the Ministry of Transport. 

There are 2 essential steps in the registration of a vessel in Cameroon; 

Naturalization 

This is the process of Cameroonization i.e. acquisition of Cameroonian nationality,  enabling the vessel to fly the Cameroon flag,for this to happen it is essential that the vessel emanates from the former nationality. 

Immatriculation  

There exist various navigation types in Cameroon which are: 

- commercial shipping for the transport of freight and passengers, which includes long-distance  shipping, international cabotage and national cabotage;  

- servitude navigation at sea, in ports and roadsteads by ships assigned specifically to public  service, excluding warships; 

- fishing navigation relating to the capture and breeding of marine animals and the exploitation of  fishery resources in general; 

- auxiliary navigation for piloting, towing, baggage, dredging, sounding, and scientific research at  sea;  

- traffic navigation related to the operation of agricultural or industrial riparian properties or parcels  granted on the public maritime domain;  

- pleasure boating aboard a vessel for pleasure purposes. 

REQUIREMENT FOR THE REGISTRATION OF SHIPS(Boats)INTO THE REGISTER OF SHIPS 

1.Building Certificate(New Ship) 

2.Tonnage Certificate(old ship) 

3. Radiation certificate from the previous flag 

4. Proof of ownership or Bill of sales 

5. Mortgage free if any from the previous flag 

6. Charter Party Agreement 

7. Copy of survey RE Report 

Payment of statutory fees on the gross tonnage of the Ship to the competent body;

Parameters for the calculation of tonnage:  

Gross tonnage less than 10: USD 16.64 

Gross tonnage between 30 and 100: USD 49 

Gross tonnage over 100: USD 83 

Cameroonisation:  

Gross tonnage between 30 and 100: USD 49 

Gross tonnage over 100: USD 83 

Gross tonnage under 30: USD 33.27 

Gross tonnage between 30 and 100: USD 116 

Gross tonnage over 100: from USD 133 

Commissioning visit: 

Gross tonnage under 50: USD 24 

Gross tonnage between 50 and 100: USD 33 

Gross tonnage over 100: costs between USD 33.27 to USD 249 

Commission:  

Gross tonnage between 2 and 25: USD 8/member  

Gross tonnage between 25 and 250: USD 12 /member  

ross tonnage over 250: USD 12+ USD 0.17 per additional 100.