The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), on Sunday in Lagos, said it took trade facilitation a notch higher with the berthing at the Lekki Deep Seaport of the largest container carrier to sail on Nigerian territorial waters.
The vessel measuring 367m in length overall christened “Maersk Edirne” has a Breadth of 48.2 and carried a Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) of 142,131metric tonnes and a Deadweight Tonnage (DWT) of 147,340 metric tonnes, constituting 3,376 total cargo on-board was navigated to safety by the experienced and thoroughly equipped Pilots of the NPA.
This development validates the assurances given by the Managing Director / CEO of NPA, Mr. Bello Koko 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 maximize the potentials inherent in our marine and blue economy.”
Responding to the milestone achievement on Sunday, Koko 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.
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, at Lekki Deep Seaport, the NPA said, represented a quantum leap.
The organisation added that the Lekki deep seaport had by the feat in addition to its pioneering of full automation and facilitation of transhipment proven its readiness to exceed stakeholders’ expectations.
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