Largest Container Vessel Berths at Lekki Deep Seaport

The Nigerian Ports Authority NPA has successfully berthed the largest container carrier at the country’s newest seaport, the Lekki Deep Seaport.

The biggest vessel sailed to Nigeria’s territorial waters on Sunday, January 21, 2024.

The vessel, MAERSK EDIRNE, measuring 367m in overall length, has a breadth of 48.2m and carried a Gross Registered Tonnage GRT of 142,131metric tonnes and a Dead Weight Tonnage DWT of 147,340 metric tonnes, constituting 3,376 metric tonnes total cargo onboard was navigated to safety by the Pilots of the NPA.

This development reinforces the NPA’s resolve to maximise the potential of Nigeria’s blue economy.

The Managing Director/CEO of the NPA, Mr. Mohammed Bello- Koko during the signing of the Presidential / Ministerial Performance Bond in December 2023, had said that “the Authority under my watch is poised to providing the leadership and technical guidance required to maximise the potential inherent in our marine and blue economy.”

Reacting to the milestone achievement on Sunday, Bello-Koko commended the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola for the consistent support and endorsement of the Authority’s initiatives and investments in employee upskilling and equipment renewal, which made this achievable.

It would be recalled that before this time, the largest commercial vessels to sail on Nigerian waters were “MV Stadelhorn” and “MSC Maureen” at Onne Port and Tin Can Island Port Complexes respectively.

Thus the berthing of the current vessel measuring 367 meters at Lekki Deep Seaport represents a quantum leap forward.