Welcome to the Nigeria Waterways Directory Glossary. This comprehensive reference guide provides definitions of key terms, concepts, and terminology used in Nigeria’s maritime and inland waterways industry.
A
Admiralty Jurisdiction
The legal authority of the Federal High Court to hear and determine maritime matters, including shipping disputes, navigation issues, proprietary interests in vessels, and maritime claims within Nigerian waters.
Anchorage
A designated area at sea protected from adverse weather conditions where ships can safely lower anchors. These areas are specifically selected for their favorable conditions for vessel anchoring.
B
Bareboat Charter
A vessel leasing arrangement where the charterer assumes complete operational control and management of the ship, including crew and maintenance responsibilities, while the owner retains legal ownership.
Berth
A designated location within a port where a vessel is secured for loading, unloading, or other port operations.
Berth Conference
A preliminary meeting held daily to determine the allocation of specific ships to respective
berths within the ports. During these meetings, agents declare ship particulars and cargo
information, which informs berth allocation decisions by the Port Authority.
Bollard
A sturdy vertical post on a wharf or quay used to secure mooring lines from vessels.
Bunker/Bunkering
The supply of fuel or diesel to a ship, typically performed by another vessel (bunker barge) within a seaport.
C
Cabotage
The transportation of goods or passengers between two points within Nigeria’s territorial waters by Nigerian-registered vessels. Under the Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act 2003, this trade is restricted to vessels that meet specific Nigerian ownership and registration requirements.
Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund
A fund established under the Cabotage Act to promote indigenous ship acquisition capacity by providing financial assistance to Nigerian operators engaged in domestic coastal shipping.
Cargo
Goods carried in or on a vessel, whether or not of commercial value, including livestock.
Cargo Dues:
Charges levied on goods being loaded onto or discharged from vessels at Nigerian ports.
Channel Maintenance
Dredging activities conducted in specific areas of navigation channels to eliminate risks and ensure safe passage for ships and other watercraft.
Coastal Trade
The carriage of goods or passengers by vessel from one place in Nigeria to another place within Nigerian waters, including activities related to the exploration and exploitation of natural resources.
D
Demise Charter
Another term for bareboat charter, where complete possession and control of a vessel is transferred to the charterer.
Docking/Dry Docking
The process of taking ships, boats, or other craft into a slipway or service yard for inspection, maintenance, and repair.
Draft/Draught
The vertical distance between the waterline and the bottom of a vessel’s hull, indicating how deep the vessel sits in the water.
Dredging
The extensive operation of removing or extracting objects, sediment, or debris that constitute obstructions to safe access or navigation within a port or waterway.
E
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)
The maritime zone extending up to 200 nautical miles from Nigeria’s coastline, where the country has sovereign rights over natural resources and economic activities.
F
Federal High Court
The Nigerian court with exclusive jurisdiction over admiralty and maritime matters, including shipping and navigation disputes.
Flag State
The country under whose laws a vessel is registered, which determines the vessel’s nationality and applicable regulations.
G
General Average
A maritime principle where all parties in a sea venture proportionally share losses resulting from voluntary sacrifice of part of the ship or cargo to save the whole in an emergency.
Gross Tonnage (GT)
A measure of a ship’s overall internal volume, used for regulatory and statistical purposes.
H
Harbour Dues
Charges levied on vessels for using port facilities and services within a harbour.
Hydrography
The science of measuring and describing features that affect maritime navigation, including water depths, currents, and underwater hazards.
I
IMDG Code (International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code)
An internationally accepted guideline for the safe transportation of dangerous goods or hazardous materials by water, designed to protect crew members and prevent marine pollution.
Inland Waters
Rivers, tributaries, distributaries, creeks, lakes, lagoons, and intra-coastal waterways within Nigeria designated as federal navigable waterways under the National Inland Waterways Authority Act.
J
Jetty
A structure or platform extending from land into water, supported on piles, used for docking ships and handling cargo operations.
L
Lighterage
The operation of loading and unloading cargo while a ship is at sea using barges, lighters, and other craft for transferring goods to nearby piers or port facilities.
Lien
A legal right or interest that a creditor has in another’s property, lasting until a debt or duty is satisfied.
Lloyd’s Register
A classification society that sets standards for the design, construction, and survey of ships to ensure safety and quality.
M
Maritime Claim
Legal claims arising from maritime activities, including cargo disputes, collision damages, salvage operations, and crew wages.
Maritime Lien
A privileged claim upon a ship or cargo in respect of services rendered or injuries caused, which travels with the property regardless of ownership changes.
Mooring
The act of fastening a vessel to a fixed object such as a bollard, buoy, or anchor to keep it stationary.
N
National Carrier
A shipping line granted special status by Nigerian authorities to operate in domestic and international trade routes.
Navigation Aids
Devices, systems, or structures (such as buoys, lighthouses, beacons, and markers) that assist vessels in determining their position and navigating safely.
Net Registered Tonnage (NRT)
The volume of a ship’s cargo spaces, used for calculating port fees and charges. NIMASA (Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency)
The federal agency responsible for maritime safety and security, shipping registration, commercial shipping regulation, and maritime labour administration in Nigeria.
NPA (Nigerian Ports Authority)
The government agency responsible for managing and operating Nigeria’s federal ports, including port infrastructure, services, and regulations.
P
Pilotage
The act or skill of assisting a ship to navigate safely through the channels and waters of a port. A licensed pilot boards the vessel to provide expert local navigation guidance.
Port
A harbour facility where ships load and unload cargo and passengers, equipped with necessary infrastructure and services.
Port State Control
Inspection of foreign ships in national ports to verify compliance with international maritime regulations and standards.
R
Reception Facilities
Shore-based installations for receiving ship-generated waste to prevent marine pollution.
River Niger and River Benue
Nigeria’s two major rivers that serve as important inland waterways for commercial navigation and transportation.
S
Salvage
A specialized operation involving the rescue of ships and persons in distress or danger of sinking, or the recovery of vessels and cargo that have already sunk.
Ship Registration
The official recording of a vessel’s details with maritime authorities, establishing its nationality and legal status. Types include Provisional Registration, Flag Registration, Bareboat Registration, and Cabotage Registration.
Stevedoring
The act of loading and unloading goods from a ship’s hold to the wharf, including all activities connected to cargo handling within a port, terminal space, or warehouse.
Stowaway
A person who secretly boards a ship to travel without paying and without being detected.
T
Territorial Waters
The maritime belt extending from Nigeria’s coastline, over which the country exercises full sovereignty.
TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit)
A standard measure for container capacity, based on the volume of a 20-foot-long container.
Throughput
The volume of cargo (inward and outward) passing through a port or terminal, typically measured in tons or TEUs.
Tonnage
A measure of a ship’s capacity or size, calculated in various ways depending on the purpose (gross tonnage, net tonnage, deadweight tonnage).
Towage
The pushing or pulling of a ship or barge through water by another vessel (tugboat).
V
Vessel
Any watercraft used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water, including ships, boats, barges, and other floating craft.
Vessel Traffic Services (VTS)
A regulatory process of information exchange and documentation involving vessels through visual lookout, radio communication, and electronic systems that provide active marine traffic monitoring and navigational advice within territorial waters.
W
Waterway Maintenance
The act of regulating and sustaining required safety standards for ships in waterways through dredging, sweeping, lighting, wreck removal, provision of navigational aids, and other activities necessary for safe vessel movement.
Wharfage
A toll or charge assessed on goods for using port berths or wharves, either while awaiting removal, passing through port facilities, or being loaded/unloaded from ships.
Wreck
A vessel that has been abandoned, sunk, stranded, or otherwise rendered unusable in its current location, potentially posing hazards to navigation.
Wreck Removal
The operation of clearing vessels or other objects that have become hazards to navigation or port access.
Legal and Regulatory Framework
Admiralty Jurisdiction Act 1991
Legislation defining the extent of admiralty jurisdiction of Nigerian Federal High Courts in maritime matters.
Cabotage Act 2003
The Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act that restricts domestic coastal trade to Nigerian-owned and registered vessels.
Merchant Shipping Act 2007
Comprehensive legislation governing ship registration, safety standards, crew requirements, and shipping operations in Nigeria.
NIMASA Act 2007
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency Act establishing NIMASA and defining its functions, powers, and responsibilities.
National Inland Waterways Authority Act
Legislation governing the administration, control, and development of Nigeria’s inland waterways.
This glossary is regularly updated to reflect current practices and regulations in Nigeria’s maritime and inland waterways sector.
For specific legal interpretations or detailed operational guidance, please consult with relevant authorities or maritime legal professionals.