Largest container vessel to sail in Nigeria berths at Lekki Seaport
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has announced that the biggest cargo ship to ever sail on Nigerian waters has docked in the West African country.
The vessel, christened ‘Maersk Edirne’, berthed at the Lekki Deep Seaport on January 21, 2024.
In a statement, the NPA said the vessel measuring 367M in length has a “breadth of 48.2 and carried a Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) of 142,131metric tonnes and a Dead weight Tonnage (DWT) of 147,340 metric tonnes, constituting 3,376 total cargo onboard”.
The statement added that the giant vessel was navigated to safety by pilots of the NPA.
Speaking on the achievement, the NPA boss, Mohammed Bello Koko, commended the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, for his relentless drive to give the port the needed support to thrive.
“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 of 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 transhippment proven its readiness to exceed stakeholders’ expectations,” the NPA stated.
