The management of Lekki Port said on Saturday in Lagos that the port received another vessel known as CMA CGM Rabelais, which is the largest vessel to have berthed since the commencement of commercial operations at the port in April 2023.
The vessel, which has a 300-meter Length Overall (LOA) and the capacity to carry an impressive 6,570 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs), is expected to discharge and load an exchange of 200 TEUs while at Lekki Port.
The CMA CGM Rabelais has set a new record for the port and, indeed, the Lagos Pilotage District, as being the largest vessel in ship dimensions to berth in the district, second only to the largest FPSO in the world, Total’s Egina FPSO.
The vessel, which was safely maneuvered to berth by the Nigerian Ports Authority led by Pilot Fagbo Sayid, sailed from Shanghai and made brief stops at Kribi and Cotonou before sailing to Lekki Port.
According to Du Ruogang, the managing director of Lekki Port, this milestone attests to the readiness of the port to become a major hub for global trade and logistics, which is evident in its capacity to receive larger vessels.
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Mohammed Bello-Koko, the managing director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), has said that the improved vessel dwell time at Lekki Port was in fulfillment of the authority’s promise to deliver speedy cargo dwell time through efficiency at the nation’s seaports.
According to him, the vessel, which originated from Shanghai, China called at Lekki Port and was released the same day.
“The fact that this vessel departed the country on the same day it berthed is a fulfillment of our promise to deliver speedy cargo dwell time, and we are committed to keep improving on this milestone,” he said.
Also speaking, Garba Gajere, the assistant Harbour Master for Lekki Port, said that a thorough navigation risk assessment was carried out to ensure optimal handling of the vessel.
Gajere described the milestone as one of many to come adding that pilots seconded by NPA to Lekki Port are fully ready to carry out their duties.
Recall that the port received its first commercial vessel, the GSL Alice vessel, on 6th April 2023.
