MV Great Lagos, arriving Tin Can Island Port, Lagos.

The Nigerian Ports Authority NPA has expressed its unwavering commitment towards achieving International Maritime Organisation IMO, Green House Gas strategy.

Recall that the authority had Monday, berthed the 250-metre-long biggest container and Roll-On-Roll-Off vessel; MV Great Lagos, belonging to the Grimaldi Group at its Ports Multiservices Terminal Limited PTML located within the Tin Can Island Port, Apapa, Lagos.

MD NPA, Mohammed Bello-Koko addressing stakeholders during the official launch of the vessel.

The vessel specifically designed to serve the Nigerian market, is technologically advanced to reduce CO₂ emissions per transported tonnes up to 43per cent ahead of previous classifications.

Speaking at a colourful ceremony to mark the official berthing of the motor vessel in Lagos, Monday, Managing Director of NPA, Mohammed Bello-Koko, said the great attention being given to the environment signposts Nigeria’s commitment to the dictates of the IMO Green House Gas strategy, which envisages a reduction in the carbon intensity of international shipping by at least 40per cent by the year 2030.

From right: Executive Director, Finance and Administration, NPA, Aderenle Adeshina, MD, NPA, Mohammed Bello-Koko, the captain of the vessel, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, ED, Marine and Operations, NPA, Onari Brown and another stakeholder at the event.

He noted that the port reform and modernisation programme of the NPA management under his watch is in tandem with the global strategy on energy transition.

Bello-Koko enjoined other shipping lines operating in the country to prioritise investments in such vessel classifications, given that shipping volumes are getting higher in Nigeria.

In a post gleaned from his verified X handle ‘@MohdBelloKoko’ the Managing Director said: “Importantly, the Authority’s Port Modernisation Programme and the ongoing reforms to port operations take cognisance of the impact of the global energy transition, and we have deliberately factored in measures that promote energy efficiency.

“With shipping volumes promising to get higher, investments such as this will certainly have a significant impact in the long term.”

On ground to grace the occasion was the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Magdalene Ajani. Other top management of the NPA that graced the occasion are Executive Director, Marine and Operations, Onari Brown and his Finance and Administration counterpart, Aderenle Adeshina, among other stakeholders.