Ship Registry Reform Takes Centre Stage in Cameroon-US Transport Talks

Cameroon and the United States have stepped up cooperation in the transport sector, with discussions focusing primarily on the fraudulent use of the Cameroonian maritime flag and reforms to ship registration procedures.

The issues were discussed in Yaounde on July 27 during a meeting between Transport Minister Jean Ernest Masséna Ngallé Bibéhè and John G. Robinson, interim chargé d’affaires at the US Embassy in Cameroon. According to the Ministry of Transport, the meeting formed part of Robinson’s official visit following his appointment earlier this year.

A key item on the agenda was the effort to address vessels fraudulently operating under the Cameroonian flag. The Ministry of Transport said Cameroon suspended ship registrations in February 2026 and has since been working with international partners, including the United States and the European Union, to identify and remove vessels improperly using the country’s maritime registry.

Business in Cameroon reported that authorities had begun removing vessels from the national registry after concerns that some ships were operating under the Cameroonian flag without proper authorization. According to the publication, dozens of vessels had been deregistered as part of efforts to restore the registry’s credibility.

The Ministry of Transport also said a reform of the regulatory framework governing ship registration and management had been completed and had been awaiting validation since April 2026. The reform is expected to strengthen oversight of vessel registration and improve compliance with international maritime standards.

The discussions also covered the role of vessel registration in establishing a ship’s nationality, confirming ownership and linking operators to safety and environmental obligations. The International Maritime Organization has raised concerns reported by several countries over fraudulent ship registrations and registry operations.

Robinson said cooperation between the two countries was already under way in the area of ship registration and that both sides were also seeking to expand private-sector engagement.

“We’re doing quite a bit of cooperation, particularly in ship registry. What we would like to see is ways that we can increase our private sector cooperation,” he said.

The two officials also discussed the Cameroon-US Strategic Economic Dialogue scheduled for August 27, 2026. Robinson said the meeting would provide an opportunity to explore additional areas of cooperation.

“The dialogue that we’ll be holding with Cameroon at the end of August will be an opportunity to explore what some of those engagements can be,” he said.

Other issues raised during the meeting included health surveillance at points of entry. According to the Ministry of Transport, screening measures remain operational at Yaounde-Nsimalen and Douala international airports through cooperation between public health authorities and the civil aviation sector.

The ministry said both sides agreed to continue technical exchanges and identify concrete areas of collaboration in transport and economic activity.

Mercy Fosoh