By Anthony Nwachukwu
The Lekki Deep Seaport has berthed MAERSK EDIRNE – a 367m overall length vessel and the largest container carrier to sail on Nigerian territorial waters so far.
Measuring 367m in length and breadth of 48.2, the vessel, with 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, was navigated to safety by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) pilots.
The NPA Managing Director, Mr. Mohammed Bello-Koko, had during the signing of the Ministerial Performance Bond in December 2023 assured that the agency was “poised to provide the leadership and technical guidance required to maximise the potentials in our marine and blue economy.”
Speaking on the berthing of the vessel, Bello-Koko commended the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola, for consistently supporting and endorsing the agency’s initiatives and investments in employee upskilling and equipment renewal, stating that they made this milestone achievement seamless.
Before this time, the largest commercial vessels to sail on Nigerian waters were MV STADELHORN at Onne Port and MSC MAUREEN at Tin Can Island Port respectively.
The berthing of a ship measuring 367m at the Lekki Deep Seaport represents a quantum leap forward, as the port, in addition to pioneering a full automation and facilitation of transshipment, has proved its readiness to exceed stakeholders’ expectations.
