Nigeria's NIMASA launches digital Seafarer Discharge Book portal

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) unveiled a Seafarer Discharge Book Management Portal during the 2026 Day of the Seafarer celebration in Lagos. Director General Dr. Dayo Mobereola called the platform a milestone in NIMASA’s digital transformation, saying it eliminates bottlenecks and strengthens the integrity of seafarer certification.

The portal integrates with the National Identity Management Commission to verify applicants’ National Identification Numbers, then guides users through email OTP verification, live facial capture, and document upload (including STCW certificates). Submissions are digitally reviewed by the agency’s Shipping Master, and approved applications proceed to online payment and automatic assignment of a unique discharge‑book serial number.

NIMASA expects the end‑to‑end digital process to cut processing times, reduce manual handling, and improve security and traceability of seafarer records, thereby enhancing the global competitiveness of Nigerian maritime workers.