Kota Canik,

Nigeria’s Lagos Port Complex LPC, Apapa last Friday June 16, 2023, again made history when it berthed its biggest container vessel in history with a Length Overall LOA, of 300 metres.

Recall that the country had last week launched two units of 2813 Azimuth Stern Drive ASD Model of the 80-tonne Bollard pull tugboats, christened M.T MAIKOKO and M.T DA-OPUKURO, constructed by world renowned shipyard, Damen, which are first of its kind in Africa and are able to handle vessels of 300-metre LOA and above.

This berthing of this 300-metre vessel at the LPC, Apapa has been described as unprecedented and a testament to the unwavering commitment of the Mohammed Bello- Koko-led Management of the Nigerian Ports Authority NPA to sustained investment in port infrastructure and equipment that enhance operational excellence and efficiency.

The vessel, Kota Canik, which is translated to mean “beautiful point” and is designed to carry up to 6,600 Twenty Equivalent Units TEUS at a move, signals a turning point and signposts the possibilities that improved infrastructural and equipment upgrade can bring about.

Bello-Koko had also recently while commissioning two ultra- modern control towers, which are in line with the efforts of the management under his watch to boost safety of navigation and scale up Apapa and Tin Can Island Ports to acceptable international standards, reiterated NPA’s resolve to equip the ports for performance that meets and indeed exceeds stakeholders’ expectations.

The new Port Manager Lagos Port Complex, Charles Bamidele Okaga, who also spoke on the development, said that Apapa Port is poised to continuously improve on the quality of services that made this milestone possible. He assured the liner, Pacific International Line PIL that the requisite efficiencies to berth the 350m LOA vessels being expected are already in place at the LPC.

The Port Manager said: “This exceptional delivery by Apapa port coming on the heels of the reception in the month of May of MSc Maureen, a vessel with an LOA of 300m and breadth of 40m, which berthed at the Tin Can Island Port Complex in Lagos demonstrates NPA’s readiness to create and sustain improved performance across board.”