Cabotage laws by country

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.

• Australia

  Coastal Trading (Revitalising Australian Shipping) Act 2012

  General Licence: Australian-flag + Australian-crewed. Temporary Licence: foreign-flag permitted with prior notice

• Brazil

  Lei 9.432/1997 + AFRMM (Additional Freight for Renewal of Merchant Marine)

  Brazilian-flag + 2/3 Brazilian-national crew (officers)

• Canada

  Coasting Trade Act 1992

  Canadian-flag + Canadian-crewed. Foreign-flag vessels require a Coasting Trade Licence issued when no Canadian-flag alternative available

• Chile

  Ley de Fomento a la Marina Mercante (Decree Law 3.059 of 1979)

  Chilean-flag + Chilean-crewed for coastal cabotage

• China

  PRC Maritime Traffic Safety Law + Regulations on Domestic Waterway Transport

  Chinese-flag + Chinese-crewed

• Egypt

  Maritime Trade Law No. 8 of 1990 + Suez Canal cabotage rules

  Egyptian-flag + Egyptian-crewed for coastal cabotage

• EU

  Regulation (EEC) No 3577/92 on maritime cabotage

  EU-flag OR EU-owned vessel; crew nationality follows host-state rules for non-liner services

• Indonesia

  Indonesian Shipping Law No. 17/2008 (asas cabotage)

  Indonesian-flag + Indonesian-crewed

• India

  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

• Japan

  Ship Law + Ship Officers and Boats Officers Law

  Japanese-flag + Japanese-national crew for domestic coastal trades

• South Korea

  Ship Act + Ship Personnel Act

  Korean-flag + Korean-national officer quota

• Mexico

  Ley de Navegación y Comercio Marítimos

  Mexican-flag + Mexican-national crew for national cabotage

• Malaysia

  Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952 + Ministry of Transport regulations

  Malaysian-flag preferred; substantial foreign-flag exemption regime

• Nigeria

  Cabotage Act 2003

  Nigerian-owned + Nigerian-built + Nigerian-crewed

• Philippines

  Philippine Domestic Shipping Development Act (RA 9295, 2004)

  60% Filipino-owned + Filipino-flag + Filipino-crewed

• Russia

  Merchant Shipping Code of the Russian Federation, Article 4

  Russian-flag preference; foreign-flag vessels can be chartered by Russian operators for specific voyages

• Thailand

  Thai Vessels Act B.E. 2481 (1938) + Marine Department Regulations

  Thai-flag + Thai-crewed for domestic coastal + inland

• Turkey

  Turkish Cabotage Law No. 815

  Turkish-flag + Turkish-national crew

• United States

  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)

• South Africa

  Merchant Shipping Act 57 of 1951 + Marine Notice framework

  South African-flag preferred; substantial foreign-flag operations under Marine Notices