Section 1: Objective of the Act

(1) The objective of the Agency shall be to-
(i) promote the development of indigenous commercial shipping in international and coastal shipping trade; and
(ii) regulate and promote maritime safety, security, marine pollution and maritime labour.
(2) The objective of this Act shall be achieved through:
(a) the establishment of a National Maritime Administration and Safety Agency who shall be responsible for executing the provisions of this Act, the Merchant Shipping Act and its amendments and all other Federal Legislation on Maritime Labour, Safety and Security;
(b) the merger of the National Maritime Authority and Joint Maritime Labour Industrial Council ;
(c) the transfer of the ownership of land and assets currently vested in the national maritime Authority and the Joint Maritime Labour Industrial Council to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency; and ,
(d) The abolition of the office of Government Inspector of Shipping created under Merchant Shipping (Delegation of Powers) Notice, Merchant Shipping Act, and the transfer of the functions and powers in that Notice to the National Maritime Administration and Safety Agency.