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Cabotage laws restrict domestic-trade voyages (loading + discharging within the same country) to nationally-flagged and/or nationally-crewed vessels. This affects which seafarers can work coastal, offshore-supply, and short-sea routes in each country. Enforcement varies substantially.
This directory covers the 20 major cabotage regimes affecting a seafarer's ability to work coastal, ferry, and offshore-supply trades.
Coastal Trading (Revitalising Australian Shipping) Act 2012
General Licence: Australian-flag + Australian-crewed. Temporary Licence: foreign-flag permitted with prior notice
Lei 9.432/1997 + AFRMM (Additional Freight for Renewal of Merchant Marine)
Brazilian-flag + 2/3 Brazilian-national crew (officers)
Coasting Trade Act 1992
Canadian-flag + Canadian-crewed. Foreign-flag vessels require a Coasting Trade Licence issued when no Canadian-flag alternative available
Ley de Fomento a la Marina Mercante (Decree Law 3.059 of 1979)
Chilean-flag + Chilean-crewed for coastal cabotage
PRC Maritime Traffic Safety Law + Regulations on Domestic Waterway Transport
Chinese-flag + Chinese-crewed
Maritime Trade Law No. 8 of 1990 + Suez Canal cabotage rules
Egyptian-flag + Egyptian-crewed for coastal cabotage
Regulation (EEC) No 3577/92 on maritime cabotage
EU-flag OR EU-owned vessel; crew nationality follows host-state rules for non-liner services
Indonesian Shipping Law No. 17/2008 (asas cabotage)
Indonesian-flag + Indonesian-crewed
Merchant Shipping Act 1958, Chapter XIV + DG Shipping Coastal Trading Rules
Indian-flag preference (Right of First Refusal for Indian-flag) + Indian-national officer quota
Ship Law + Ship Officers and Boats Officers Law
Japanese-flag + Japanese-national crew for domestic coastal trades
Ship Act + Ship Personnel Act
Korean-flag + Korean-national officer quota
Ley de Navegación y Comercio Marítimos
Mexican-flag + Mexican-national crew for national cabotage
Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952 + Ministry of Transport regulations
Malaysian-flag preferred; substantial foreign-flag exemption regime
Cabotage Act 2003
Nigerian-owned + Nigerian-built + Nigerian-crewed
Philippine Domestic Shipping Development Act (RA 9295, 2004)
60% Filipino-owned + Filipino-flag + Filipino-crewed
Merchant Shipping Code of the Russian Federation, Article 4
Russian-flag preference; foreign-flag vessels can be chartered by Russian operators for specific voyages
Thai Vessels Act B.E. 2481 (1938) + Marine Department Regulations
Thai-flag + Thai-crewed for domestic coastal + inland
Turkish Cabotage Law No. 815
Turkish-flag + Turkish-national crew
Jones Act (Merchant Marine Act of 1920, section 27)
US-owned + US-built + US-flagged + US-crewed (75% US citizens; master + all officers must be US)
Merchant Shipping Act 57 of 1951 + Marine Notice framework
South African-flag preferred; substantial foreign-flag operations under Marine Notices