Section 34: Endorsement of change of owner on certificate of registry

(1)
Whenever a change occurs in the registered ownership of a ship registered in Nigeria, the change of ownership shall be endorsed on the certificate of registration by the Registrar at the ship's port of registry, or by the Registrar or appropriate officer at any port at which the ship arrives after the registration officer is advised of the change by the Registrar at the ship's port of registry.
(2)
The master shall, for the purpose of an endorsement of the certificate of registration of the ship by the Registrar at the ship's port of registry, immediately deliver the certificate to the Registrar after the change, if the change occurs when the ship is at the port of registry but if the change, occurs during the absence of the ship from that port and the endorsement under this section is not made before her return, then, upon her first return to that port.
(3)
The Registrar at any port of registry, not being the ship's port of registry, or any appropriate officer required by this section to make an endorsement on the certificate of registration of a ship registered in Nigeria, may require the master to deliver the ship's certificate of registration to him, as long as the ship is not detained; and the master shall deliver the certificate accordingly.
(4)
Where any Registrar, not being the Registrar at the ship's port of registry, or any proper officer, makes an endorsement under this section in respect of any ship, he shall forthwith notify the Registrar at the ship's port of registry.
(5)
The master of a ship who fails to deliver the ship's certificate of registration to a Registrar or the appropriate officer when required under this section to do so, commits an offence and on conviction is liable to a fine not less than one hundred thousand Naira.
(6)
Where the ownership of any ship registered in Nigeria is changed, the Registrar at the ship's port of registry may, on the application of the owner of the ship, register the ship anew, notwithstanding that a new registration is not required under this part of this Act.