In its determination and commitment to notch up trade facilitation, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has recorded the berthing at the Lekki Deep Seaport of the largest container carrier on Nigerian territorial waters.
The vessel berthed on Sunday, January 21, 2024, the NPA said in a statement given to Persecondnews.
The vessel, measuring 367 m in length overall and christened “Maersk Edirne,” has a breadth of 48.2 and a gross registered tonnage (GRT) of 142,131 metric tonnes, and a dead weight tonnage (DWT) of 147,340 metric tonnes, constituting 3,376 total metric tonnes onboard.
The highly skilled and well-equipped pilots of the NPA guided it to safety.
This development validates the assurances given by the Managing Director/CEO of NPA, Mr. Mohammed Bello Koko, during the signing of the Presidential/Ministerial Performance Bond in December 2023.
He said: “The Authority under my watch is poised to provide the leadership and technical guidance required to maximize the potential inherent in our marine and blue economy”.
Reacting to the milestone, Bello Koko commended the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola, for the consistent support and endorsement of NPA’s initiatives and investments in employees’ upskilling and equipment renewal, which made the milestone seamlessly achievable.
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 berthing of a ship measuring 367 metres at Lekki Deep Seaport represents a quantum leap forward.
Peresecondnews reports that 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.
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