The Federal Government, through the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), has launched the Ocean Dragon—Nigeria’s first indigenous vessel with a 349-container capacity—at Onne Port, Rivers State.
The West Africa Container Terminal (WACT) to ECMT Calabar vessel, owned by Clarion Shipping, drew commendations for aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s “Nigeria First” policy and the NPA’s vision of positioning Nigeria as Africa’s maritime logistics hub.
NPA Managing Director Abubakar Dantsoho hailed Clarion Shipping and WACT for their strategic partnership, noting that the Ocean Dragon is fully Nigerian-built and marks a significant step in boosting local content. He highlighted Onne Port’s rapid growth, with container traffic serving Calabar, Onitsha, Aba, the far North, and the oil and gas sector.
Dantsoho emphasised that this development is a “game changer” for coastal shipping, enabling more direct calls to Onne and supporting the Cabotage Law. He added that increased container movement within Nigeria would attract more international vessels, reinforcing Nigeria’s ambition to become West and Central Africa’s shipping hub.
Fredrick Klinke, Head of APM Terminals, described the vessel’s launch as a milestone for indigenous market growth, job creation, and regional trade facilitation. He recalled that WACT, once a swamp, is now a world-class terminal thanks to a $150 million investment, advanced infrastructure, and strong collaboration with stakeholders.
Managing Director of WACT, Jeethu Jose, reiterated the terminal’s commitment to supporting national marine and blue economy policies. He praised Clarion Shipping’s confidence in Nigeria and stressed that the Ocean Dragon will enhance connectivity, non-oil export growth, and economic opportunities in the Eastern ports.
source:www.thisdaylive.com
