Section 17: Register of books

(1)
The Registrar of ships shall keep such register or books as may be deemed necessary including the following-
(a) A register for merchant ships;
(b) A register for fishing vessels;
(c) A register for ships under construction;
(d)
A register for ships on bareboat charters and other charters exceeding 12 months duration;
(e) A register for licensed ships below 15 gross tons; and
(f)
A register for Floating Production Storage and Offioading (FPSO) and Floating Storage and Offloading (FSO).
(2)
Entries in the books referred to in subsection (1) of this section, shall be made in accordance with the following provisions:
(a)
An individual may be registered as sole owner of a ship in his own name;
(b)
A person shall not be entitled to be registered as owner of a fractional part of a share in a ship; but any number of persons not exceeding five may be registered as joint owners of a ship or of any share therein;
(c)
Joint owners shall be considered as constituting one person only as regards the persons entitled to be registered, and shall not be entitled to dispose in severalty of any interest in a ship, or in any share the interest in respect of which they are registered; and
(d)
A corporation may be registered as owner by its corporate name.
(3)
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Act relating to registration and licensing of ships, any vessel intending to operate within the coastal and inland waters of Nigeria shall obtain operational permits from the relevant agencies of Government.