The management of the Lekki Deep Seaport shared photos on its twitter handle, as Rimbaud becomes the first transshipment vessel to berth at the port
The Lekki deepsea port celebrated a milestone as the nation welcomed its first transshipment vessel in decades.
The Lekki Deepsea Port berthed a 6,900 Twenty Equivalent Units, TEUs capacity transshipment vessel.
With the recent establishment, Nigeria is poised to regain its position as a key maritime logistics hub, facilitating transit and transshipment for neighboring landlocked countries, the Nigerian Port Authority tweeted on Friday
The Port received cargo from two major global container shipping giants, CMA-CGM and Maersk.
The CMA-CGM vessel transported 411 TEUs of transshipment cargo, bound for Cotonou, scheduled to depart on July.
The vessel which berthed at on Thursday has a length of 270 meters and a breath of 42.8 meters.
Nigerian Ports Authority recently acquired 80-ton bollard pull tug boats, instrumental in safely navigating the vessels to the port.
Lekki Deep Sea
The construction of the Lekki Deep Sea commenced in March 2018.
The project, spearheaded by the Lagos State Government in collaboration with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), was driven by the need to address the growing demand for a modern and efficient deep seaport in the region.
Upon completion, the port is set to enhance Nigeria’s maritime capabilities, promoting international trade and economic growth.
Designed to accommodate the largest container vessels, the Lekki Deep Sea Port boasts a draft depth of 16.5 meters, allowing it to handle mega-container ships.
Considered largest in Africa
Its location in the Lekki Free Trade Zone positions it as a gateway for imports and exports.
The construction of the port witnessed significant milestones, including the completion of the quay wall and breakwater, the installation of port infrastructure, and the acquisition of specialized equipment to support port operations.
In January 2023, the then President Muhammadu Buhari inaugurated the Lekki Deep Sea Port. The president emphasized the port’s significance in enhancing Nigeria’s competitiveness and economic development.
As of now, the port is gearing up for full commercial operations.
Writing by Saadatu Albashir; Editing by Julian Osamoto