(Business in Cameroon) – Cameroon has announced a new digital system for registering ships and issuing its national flag. This process, set to start on December 2, was introduced by the Minister of Transport, Jean Ernest Massena Ngalle Bibehe. Shipowners will now need to submit 17 required documents through an online platform to complete the registration process.
This change comes after pressure from international partners, who have accused Cameroon of being a “flag of convenience.” This term refers to countries that allow ships to fly their flag without proper checks on the vessels’ backgrounds. In some cases, Cameroon’s flag has been used by ships involved in illegal activities or those banned in other countries. Over time, this gave Cameroon a reputation as a safe haven for questionable ships.
Officials in Cameroon’s Ministry of Transport defend their previous system, saying the country lacked access to global databases that track ships’ activities worldwide. According to Jean Nlend, Director of Maritime Affairs and Inland Waterways, Cameroon is not yet part of the Global Integrated Shipping Information System (GISIS). Despite “enormous efforts,” the country has not been able to join the system. He noted in March that Cameroon’s inability to monitor flagged ships in high-risk zones stems from this gap. Years ago, the U.S. shared such data with Cameroon, but this support has since stopped.
Currently, over 200 ships sail under the Cameroonian flag. Some of these vessels have faced serious consequences abroad. For example, in February, the United Arab Emirates banned certain Cameroonian-flagged ships from its ports. The authorities said the ships were not certified by the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) or the Emirates Classification Society (Tasneef).
