Mohammed Shosanya
The Nigerian Ports Authority on Sunday, said the Lekki Deep Seaport has received the largest container vessel to sail on Nigerian territorial waters.
NPA said in a statement that the vessel christened, ‘Maersk Edirne’, measured 367m in length.
The Managing Director of NPA, Mr. Mohammed Bello-Koko, in the statement explained that the vessel had a breadth of 48.2 and carried a gross registered tonnage of 142,131metric tonnes.
The management of the deep seaport had in June 2023, announced the arrival of Rimbaud, the first transshipment vessel to call at the container terminal of the deep seaport. The management added that the vessel came with cargo from two of the largest container shipping lines in the world, CMA CGM and Maersk.
Speaking on the recent carrier, Bello-Koko said, “The new vessel had a dead weight tonnage of 147,340 metric tonnes, constituting 3,376 total cargo onboard. The vessel was navigated by the highly experienced and thoroughly equipped pilots of the NPA,”
He said the development validated the assurance given by the agency, during the signing of the presidential/ministerial performance bond in December 2023 that, “the authority under my watch is poised to provide the leadership and technical guidance required to maximise the potentials inherent in our marine and blue economy,”
He commended the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, for the consistent support and endorsement of the authority’s initiatives, “and investments in employee upskilling and equipment renewal which made this milestone seamlessly achievable,”
He added, “Before this time, the largest commercial vessels to sail on Nigerian waters were ‘MV Stadelhorn’ and ‘MSC Maureen’ at Onne Port and Tincan Island Port Complexes respectively. Thus the berth of a ship measuring 367 meters at Lekki Deep Seaport represents a quantum leap forward.
“The Lekki Deep Seaport has by this feat in addition to its pioneering of full automation and facilitation of transshipment proven its readiness to exceed stakeholders’ expectations.”
