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Practical flag service guide

Withhold — information only

Cameroon Maritime Services

Cameroon flag information only: MINT reports that registration of floating craft intended to navigate outside Cameroon territorial waters remains suspended until further notice. Current statutory and seafarer routes are limited or unconfirmed and require direct authority review.

Operational information reviewed: 2026-09-13

One country, one working guide

Routes, requirements, timing and expected documents.

Current-status notice

Cameroon’s Ministry of Transport (MINT) is the national maritime authority. Its February 2026 communiqué suspended the international/outside-territorial-waters registration route after unauthorized applications, and its July 2026 update said the suspension continued while the framework awaited validation. Pharaohs Marine can review files, prepare conditional checklists, coordinate with the proper authority or issuer when a route is confirmed, track the response and deliver official documents when available; it is not MINT, a registrar, RO, surveyor, training centre or issuer.

01
CameroonSuspended

Ship Registration

MINT’s February 2026 communiqué suspends registration of floating craft intended to navigate outside Cameroon territorial waters until further notice; the July 2026 update says the suspension continued while the registration framework awaited validation. The public portal shows ship-document categories but no current unauthenticated checklist or open registration route.

Service routes

Registration types

National registration and title of nationality

Use this route for: Use the CEMAC legal framework for a Cameroon title of nationality and flag registration only if MINT confirms that the suspension no longer applies.

Requirements for National registration and title of nationality
  • Current written MINT status confirmation and route instructions.
  • Evidence of qualifying ownership or corporate connection under the applicable CEMAC route.
  • Evidence of qualifying vessel origin and an authority-approved vessel name.
  • Tonnage-measurement evidence and registration particulars.
  • MINT registration application form and any current originals, translations or legalisation requirements, if issued for the confirmed route.
Validity
  • The CEMAC Code requires the title of nationality to be carried onboard unless an official exemption applies.
  • Not published in the reviewed official route.
Processing: Not published by the flag administration for this route.
Issued documents
  • Title of nationality (acte de nationalité), if MINT confirms and issues the route.
  • Cameroon registration record, if separately issued by MINT.
Important conditions
  • MINT’s February 2026 suspension covers floating craft intended to navigate outside Cameroon territorial waters and remains until further notice in the reviewed sources.
  • No active registration application, direct-registration promise or current acceptance is represented here.
  • The CEMAC framework is not a complete current Cameroon checklist.
How Pharaohs Marine helps

We can review the vessel file, prepare a conditional checklist, coordinate a status enquiry with MINT or the proper registry route if it is confirmed or reopens, track the response and deliver official documents if issued. We do not submit an active registration application while the suspension remains.

Temporary naturalization of a foreign bareboat-chartered vessel

Use this route for: Use the CEMAC bareboat framework only after MINT confirms that temporary naturalization is currently available for the vessel.

Requirements for Temporary naturalization of a foreign bareboat-chartered vessel
  • Current MINT confirmation of the bareboat-naturalization route and application channel.
  • Bareboat charter-party for at least one year.
  • Evidence that the charterer has its registered office in a CEMAC Member State.
  • Evidence that the charter-party was published as required by applicable national law.
  • MINT-confirmed ownership, deletion, technical and safety records for the vessel, if required.
Validity
  • The CEMAC Code states that the bareboat charter must be for at least one year.
  • Not published in the reviewed official route.
Processing: Not published by the flag administration for this route.
Issued documents
  • Temporary naturalization registration document, if MINT confirms and issues the route.
  • Applicable Cameroon title of nationality, if MINT confirms it.
Important conditions
  • No current Cameroon application form, acceptance notice or complete checklist was located.
  • MINT’s registration suspension and current-status review must be cleared before any filing is considered.
  • This legal framework route is not a promise that Cameroon is accepting applications.
How Pharaohs Marine helps

We can review the charter and supporting file, prepare a conditional checklist, coordinate submission with the proper MINT route only after confirmation, track the response and deliver the official document if issued. We do not promise direct registration or acceptance.

Provisional first-voyage act

Use this route for: Use the CEMAC provisional first-voyage framework for a vessel built or purchased abroad only if MINT confirms a current Cameroon issuance channel.

Requirements for Provisional first-voyage act
  • Current MINT confirmation of the provisional first-voyage route and issuing authority.
  • Evidence of foreign construction or purchase.
  • Evidence of the intended definitive registration country and route.
  • Evidence representing duties payable in the definitive registration State, if required by the confirmed authority.
  • Current embassy, consulate or replacement-authority application instructions, if issued.
Validity
  • The CEMAC Code frames this document for the vessel’s first voyage to its definitive registration country.
  • Not published in the reviewed official route.
Processing: Not published by the flag administration for this route.
Issued documents
  • Provisional first-voyage act, if the competent authority confirms and issues it.
Important conditions
  • No current Cameroon embassy, consulate or MINT issuance channel was publicly verified.
  • The February 2026 suspension and July 2026 current-status review remain controlling for any Cameroon registration request.
  • This is a legal-framework output only, not an active application offer.
How Pharaohs Marine helps

We can review the construction or purchase evidence, prepare a conditional file checklist, coordinate with the confirmed embassy, consulate or MINT route, track the response and deliver the official act if issued. We do not present the route as currently open.

02
CameroonLimited

Class & Statutory

Public Cameroon RO authorization and a complete statutory-certificate catalogue are not currently verified. The CEMAC/IMO framework distinguishes flag-issued documents from class and delegated RO work; CRS Class reported an MINT authorization in June 2026, but the underlying current public instrument was not located. Verify current MINT scope before engagement.

Service routes

Class, statutory and inspection routes

Class certificate

Use this route for: Obtain or maintain vessel class under a classification society’s rules only after the society’s current Cameroon authority and the requested class scope are verified.

Requirements for Class certificate
  • Selected society’s class application, if the society confirms a Cameroon route.
  • Vessel particulars and requested class notation.
  • Previous Class Certificate and class status, when applicable.
  • Current survey reports and outstanding conditions of class.
  • Technical drawings, plans and machinery records requested by the selected society.
Validity
  • Class validity follows the selected society’s survey cycle and the expiry date shown on its certificate.
  • Not published in the reviewed official route.
Processing: Not published by the flag administration for this route.
Issued documents
  • Class Certificate.
  • Class survey status or record, when issued by the selected society.
Important conditions
  • No current Cameroon-specific class procedure or society list was verified in the reviewed official sources.
  • Class is separate from flag-issued statutory certification.
  • Verify the selected society’s current authority and scope before engagement; the named society is the issuer.
How Pharaohs Marine helps

If Pharaohs Marine has a current surveyor appointment and the selected society has current Cameroon authority for the requested class work, our appointed surveyor can conduct the applicable survey and manage certification directly from our office through that society. If the owner selects another authorized society, we coordinate with it. The named society issues the Class Certificate; current authority must be verified before engagement.

Delegated RO statutory certification

Use this route for: Obtain a Cameroon flag statutory certificate through MINT or an RO expressly authorized for the requested vessel and certificate, subject to current scope verification.

Requirements for Delegated RO statutory certification
  • Current MINT authorization or delegation reference for the requested RO and certificate.
  • RO or MINT application for the requested statutory certificate, if issued.
  • Vessel particulars, tonnage, service and trading area.
  • Current Class Certificate and survey or audit status.
  • Existing statutory certificates, technical plans, manuals and records requested for the survey.
Validity
  • Each certificate follows its applicable convention, survey cycle and the expiry date shown on the issued instrument.
  • Not published in the reviewed official route.
Processing: Not published by the flag administration for this route.
Issued documents
  • Statutory certificate within the confirmed Cameroon delegation.
  • Applicable survey or audit report.
  • Flag-issued certificate when MINT retains issuance or approval.
Important conditions
  • CRS Class reported an MINT recognized-organization authorization in June 2026, but the underlying current public MINT or IMO authorization instrument was not located.
  • Verify current authority, vessel scope and certificate scope before engagement; the named society, RO, RSO or MINT is always the issuer.
  • Flag-State oversight and any administration-side approval remain with MINT.
How Pharaohs Marine helps

If Pharaohs Marine has a current surveyor appointment and the appointing RO or RSO has current Cameroon authority for the requested certificate, our appointed surveyor can conduct the applicable survey or audit and manage certification directly from our office through the appointing organization. If the owner selects another authorized society, we coordinate with it. The named society, RO, RSO or MINT is the issuer; current authority must be verified before engagement.

Flag-issued safety titles under the CEMAC framework

Use this route for: Request a navigation permit, certificate of seaworthiness or another applicable CEMAC safety title only after MINT confirms the current vessel-specific route.

Requirements for Flag-issued safety titles under the CEMAC framework
  • Current MINT application or written instructions for the requested safety title.
  • Vessel particulars, tonnage, service and intended operation.
  • Tonnage, construction, radio, safety and pollution-prevention evidence specified by MINT for the vessel.
  • Applicable RO or class survey report and existing statutory certificates, if MINT requires them.
Validity
  • The CEMAC Code states one year for the passenger-ship safety certificate.
  • Not published in the reviewed official route for the other titles.
Processing: Not published by the flag administration for this route.
Issued documents
  • Navigation permit.
  • Certificate of seaworthiness.
  • Applicable Load Line, passenger-ship safety, pollution-prevention, construction, radio, tonnage, deratting or safety-management certificate.
Important conditions
  • The CEMAC list is a legal framework, not a current public Cameroon service menu.
  • Applicability and issuer depend on the vessel, operation and any current MINT delegation.
  • The named MINT or expressly authorized RO is the issuer; verify current authority before engagement.
How Pharaohs Marine helps

If Pharaohs Marine has a current surveyor appointment and the appointing society or RO has current Cameroon authority for the requested title, our appointed surveyor can conduct the applicable survey or audit and manage certification directly from our office through that organization. If the owner selects another authorized society, we coordinate with it. MINT or the expressly authorized issuer issues the document; current authority must be verified before engagement.

Classification / RO list status No public named list verified

List status: no public list was verified. No current named list, undated/older named list, or policy-only list naming Cameroon Class/RO organizations was found in the reviewed official sources. MINT's public homepage and maritime-services portal publish generic maritime document categories but no named list, while the official IMO GISIS Recognized Organizations module reviewed requires login. No row is inferred from a society's own announcement; this does not prove that no authorization exists.

RSO list status No public named list verified

List status: no public list was verified. No current named list, undated/older named list, or policy-only list naming Cameroon-approved recognized security organizations was found in the reviewed official sources. IMO's official maritime-security page explains ISPS at framework level and the public GISIS/RO endpoints did not expose a Cameroon-specific RSO list; therefore recognized_security_organizations is empty and no ISPS authorization is inferred.

03
CameroonLimited

Seafarer Certification

MINT’s public portal confirms a generic Marine Documents channel, but the reviewed official sources do not publish a current Cameroon CoC, recognition-endorsement, Seaman Book/CDC, rating or approved-training-centre route. Treat each credential as unavailable until MINT confirms the document type, checklist and issuer.

Service routes

Credential and document routes

MINT Marine Document route

Use this route for: Ask MINT to identify and process the applicable Cameroon marine or seaman document; the public portal confirms only a generic channel.

Requirements for MINT Marine Document route
  • Current MINT Marine Documents application form, if provided.
  • Current MINT checklist for the identified document; the public portal does not publish its contents.
  • MINT-confirmed identity, sea-service, medical or training evidence for the identified document, if required.
Validity
  • Not published in the reviewed official route.
Processing: Not published by the flag administration for this route.
Issued documents
  • MINT marine or seaman document; the public portal does not identify whether this is a CoC, endorsement, Seaman Book, CDC or another document.
Important conditions
  • MINT’s online-services page exposes Marine Documents and Ship Documents categories but no current form, checklist or specific credential route.
  • No specific Cameroon credential is represented as currently available until MINT confirms the document type and route.
  • MINT remains the issuer.
How Pharaohs Marine helps

We review the file, identify the document question, prepare a route checklist, submit the complete file directly to MINT when a current route is confirmed, track the response and deliver the issued document when available. MINT remains issuer.

National CoC or recognition endorsement

Use this route for: Request a Cameroon national Certificate of Competency or recognition endorsement only if MINT confirms that a live route exists.

Requirements for National CoC or recognition endorsement
  • Current MINT national-CoC or recognition-endorsement form; not published in the reviewed official route.
  • MINT-confirmed underlying CoC and authenticity evidence for a recognition endorsement, if applicable.
  • MINT-confirmed STCW training or assessment certificates, medical fitness certificate, sea-service evidence and identity records, if required.
Validity
  • Not published in the reviewed official route.
Processing: Not published by the flag administration for this route.
Issued documents
  • Cameroon national Certificate of Competency (CoC), if MINT confirms issuance.
  • Cameroon Certificate of Endorsement or recognition document, if MINT confirms the route.
Important conditions
  • No current Cameroon national-CoC application, accepted-issuing-State list or foreign-CoC endorsement procedure was verified.
  • Do not treat a foreign CoC as Cameroon-recognized without a current MINT-issued endorsement or written confirmation.
  • MINT remains the issuer.
How Pharaohs Marine helps

We review the file, prepare the MINT-confirmed checklist, submit the complete recognition or CoC file directly to the flag administration, track the review and deliver the issued document when available. MINT remains issuer; no route is represented as open until confirmed.

STCW training and assessment certificate

Use this route for: Follow an STCW training or assessment route only if MINT confirms an approved training centre and course for the requested Cameroon credential.

Requirements for STCW training and assessment certificate
  • MINT-confirmed approved-centre application and course-enrolment record.
  • MINT-confirmed course prerequisites and identity evidence.
  • STCW course attendance and assessment evidence.
  • Medical fitness and sea-service evidence only if the confirmed course or credential requires them.
Validity
  • Not published in the reviewed official route.
Processing: Not published by the flag administration for this route.
Issued documents
  • STCW course certificate, if issued by the confirmed approved training centre.
  • STCW assessment certificate, if issued under the confirmed route.
Important conditions
  • No current MINT approved-training-centre list or Cameroon course catalogue was located.
  • The training centre or flag administration remains issuer; Pharaohs Marine is neither.
  • Verify course approval, assessment authority and any required flag submission before engagement.
How Pharaohs Marine helps

If MINT confirms an approved training centre Pharaohs Marine works with, we review the file, submit it to that centre, follow the course-certificate process, submit to MINT where required, track the result and deliver the issued electronic certificate when available. The training centre or MINT remains issuer.

Training-centre list status No public named list verified

List status: no public list was verified. No current named list, undated/older named list, or policy-only list of Cameroon-flag-approved or flag-recognized maritime/STCW training centres was found in the reviewed official sources. MINT's portal publishes only generic Marine Documents, Ship Documents, and Other Services, and the IMO Cameroon course report describes administrative capacity-building rather than centre approval; therefore no centre or course scope is listed. Exact course scope not published in the reviewed official directory.

Primary references

Official sources used for this guide.

Published requirements and authorization scopes can change. We verify the current route again when preparing a live file.

01Cameroon Ministry of Transport — 6 February 2026 maritime-register communiquéThe Minister as National Maritime Authority; fraudulent unauthorized applications; suspension until further notice for floating craft intended to navigate outside Cameroon territorial waters. 02Cameroon Ministry of Transport — 27 July 2026 transport-sector updateConfirms registrations have been suspended since February 2026 and says the ship-registration and management reform document was awaiting validation. 03Cameroon Ministry of Transport — online servicesConfirms the public maritime-transport service categories Marine Documents, Ship Documents, and Other Services, without publishing a complete registration or seafarer checklist. 04MINT-linked SSDT ship-document portalShows that the linked ship-document destination currently exposes a sign-in page rather than an unauthenticated registration procedure. 05Cameroon Ministry of Transport — official homepageConfirms the Ministry's official services and links to the public transport-titles portal. 06CEMAC Merchant Shipping Code, Regulation No. 03/01-UEACRegional legal framework for title of nationality, ownership and corporate connection routes, name approval, tonnage, registration by port authority, temporary bareboat naturalization, provisional first-voyage act, and safety titles. 07IMO — Registration of ships and fraudulent registration mattersExplains flag-State nationality and jurisdiction responsibilities and the international registration framework. 08IMO — Fraudulent registration and fraudulent registries of shipsDefines fraudulent registration and fraudulent registry and supports the warning to verify authority directly. 09IMO — Recognized OrganizationsExplains that flag Administrations may entrust surveys to recognized organizations while retaining oversight and responsibility. 10IMO GISIS — public areaConfirms the public modules for Contact Points, Recognized Organizations, STCW-related information, Survey and Certification, and certificate verification. 11IMO GISIS — Recognized Organizations moduleShows that the public RO destination reviewed requires a GISIS login; no public Cameroon-specific authorization record was exposed in the review. 12IMO — Certificate VerificationConfirms the STCW requirement for Parties to maintain registers of certificates and endorsements and provide authenticity and validity status for verification requests. 13IMO — Training and CertificationProvides the STCW framework for competence, national implementation information, and certificate-of-competency validity and authenticity checks. 14IMO — Course boosts seafarer training and certification skills in CameroonConfirms a May 2024 IMO course with Cameroon maritime officials and MINT collaboration on administering STCW training, assessment, and certification. 15Cameroon National Shippers' Council — Cameroon commits to training and certification of seafarersStates that IMO technical assistance was intended to enable Cameroon to issue maritime certificates and licences; names participating public stakeholders but no approved training-centre list or live application route. 16CRS Class — 5 June 2026 announcement of claimed Cameroon RO authorizationRecords CRS Class's own public claim that it became an authorized and recognized organization of MINT for statutory certification, including the scope and named certificate types it advertises; the public MINT/IMO authorization instrument was not located. 17IMO — Member StatesConfirms Cameroon is an IMO Member State since 1961; used only as international institutional context. 18IMO — Maritime Security and Piracy / ISPS CodeExplains ISPS responsibilities at framework level; does not publish a Cameroon-specific recognized security organization list. 19IMO GISIS — STCW-related information moduleThe reviewed public endpoint presents an IMO login page rather than a publicly visible Cameroon-specific approved maritime/STCW training-centre directory.