Section 15: Grant of licence to foreign vessels and conditions

(1) Upon application for a licence by a person resident in Nigeria acting on behalf of a foreign owned vessel, the Minister may issue a restricted licence for the foreign owned vessel to be registered for participation in the Coastal Trade, where the Minister is satisfied that-
(a) any of the circumstances in sections 9-12 is applicable ;
(b) the foreign owned vessel is eligible to be registered in Nigeria ;
(c) the owning company of the foreign vessel has a representative office in Nigeria ;
(d) all applicable duties, levies and tariffs imposed by the relevant authorities applicable to foreign vessels with respect to its participation in the Coastal Trade have been paid ;
(e) the foreign vessel possess all certificates and documents in compliance with international and regional maritime conventions whether or not Nigeria is a party to the conventions and that such certificates and documents are current and valid ; and
(f) the foreign vessel meets all safety and pollution requirements imposed by Nigerian law and any international conventions in force.
(2) In making a determination referred to in subsection (1), the Minister may request from the applicant for the licence to which the determination relates, and from the owner of any Nigerian vessel to which the determination relates, such information and documentation as the Minister may deem necessary.
(3) The issuance of a licence pursuant to subsection (1) does not affect the application to such foreign vessel of any Nigerian law that imposes safety or pollution prevention requirements in respect of vessels.
(4) The licence issued under subsection (1) shall be carried on board the vessel at all times