CEM REPORT, MARITIME | Lagos Tin Can port has received its largest-ever vessel – MSC MAUREEN.
The 300metres long containership berthed at the Tincan Island Container Terminal Ltd (TICT) last week.
Key stakeholders in the maritime sector such as; the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), and Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), inclusive of senior officials of TICT among others received the Panama flag bearer ship.
Speaking at the event, the Chief Operations Officer of TICT, Edward Ancly, said the berthing of MSC MAUREEN is historic and will attract more business into the country.
“It is a major change in our operation. It is the first time we would see a 300-metre length overall vessel coming into Lagos port, so it is going to give more capacity to the shipping lines and bring more business to Nigeria. I am very glad it happened here and in TICT.”
Buba Jubril, the port manager of the Tin-Can Island Port Complex, praised the Nigerian Ports Authority’s employees for collaborating with the ship’s crew, the terminal operator, and other key players to successfully berth the ship.
He promised timely, effective, and professional assistance to all shipping businesses, importers, and exporters conducting business at the port.
The successful berthing of the ship will result in greater revenue for the Federal Government, according to Aliyu Gambo, Deputy Comptroller of Customs in charge of enforcement at the Tin Can Island Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service.
The Managing Director of MSC Nigeria Limited, Andrew Lynch, commenting noted that the ship’s successful berthing would result in economies of scale for importers and exporters and that it would further support Nigeria’s export drive because the ship would leave Nigeria’s shores carrying export goods intended for the global market.
[READ ALSO] Nigeria Exports Fresh Pepper to Europe
“This feat will help us reduce costs and create economies of scale for importers and exporters. Tin Can and Apapa ports remain very important for the Nigerian economy so if larger vessels come here, it will be a great benefit to everyone. We have seen that we can do it and this will make Lagos more competitive because the larger the vessel, the lower the freight rate becomes in terms of imports and exports,” Lynch said.
The MSC MAUREEN, currently sailing under the flag of Panama, is a 6,750 TEU ship with a draught of 12 metres, a length overall of 300 metres and a beam of 40 metres.
TICT is the operator of Terminal B, Tin Can Island Port Complex, Lagos. It is Nigeria’s second busiest container terminal. The terminal has three berths with a shore length of 770 meters and a storage yard of 240,000 square meters.
