Pacific International Lines (PIL) christened its newest 8,200 TEU LNG dual-fuel container vessel, Kota Odyssey (IMO 9977878), during a ceremony at the Port of Tema.
For the first time, PIL held a vessel naming in Ghana, highlighting the country’s rising importance in West Africa’s maritime logistics sector.
As part of PIL’s new “O” Class series, Kota Odyssey was officially named by Ghana’s Vice President, Ms. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, who acted as Lady Sponsor. The ceremony also drew Transport Minister Joseph Bukari Nikpe and Deputy Minister for Energy and Green Transition Richard Gyan-Mensah.
The ship will sail on PIL’s South West Africa Service (SWS), a weekly direct route connecting China, Singapore, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, and Côte d’Ivoire.
This deployment will strengthen trade links between Asia and West Africa while boosting Tema’s role as a gateway for regional and inland connectivity.
Vice President Opoku-Agyemang hailed the vessel’s arrival as a landmark for Ghana’s maritime growth, stressing its alignment with national goals for sustainable transport and industrial advancement. She also underscored Ghana’s longstanding trade and maritime ties with Singapore, PIL’s home base.
PIL CEO Lars Kastrup emphasized Ghana’s pivotal place in the company’s African operations, citing Tema’s inland links to Burkina Faso and PIL’s West Africa regional office. He reaffirmed the company’s dedication to enhancing Ghana’s logistics infrastructure and building local talent.
Since the 1970s, PIL has expanded across Africa, now serving over 30 countries. In Ghana, its operations run entirely on renewable energy, and the company employs around 100 Ghanaian seafarers throughout its fleet.
source:africaports.co.za
