Jubilation As Onne Port Plays Host To MV Lady
BY EGUONO ODJEGBA
The berthing of MV Lady Jane at the Onne Port, has elicited quiet jubilation amongst stakeholders in Nigerian maritime industry, especially players and operators at the eastern port where Onne Port is located.
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The smooth landing of MV Lady Jane described as the first largest container vessel so far to navigate the eastern port was facilitated by Comet Shipping Agencies Limited in collaboration with West Africa Container Terminal (WACT) on Wednesday.
The vessel, owned by OOCL berthed at 2:30 pm on13th April, 2022 at West African Container Terminal at Onne Port and is 296 metre long and more than 12 metre draft. Those whose business it is to know have described the vessel call at Onne Port as a landmark, positive and historic development all critical stakeholders, the Nigerian Ports Authority, Nigerian Maritime Administration and safety Agency, and in particular Comet Shipping Agencies Limited.
Speaking on the development, the Group Managing Director of NAL-Comet Group, Mr. Pier Luigi Carrodano said the successful berthing of the vessel was a sign positive growth of port industry in Nigeria.
“This is a welcomed development and good for the international image of Rivers Port and Nigeria’s port industry in general. We have shown the world that in terms of capacity, Nigerian ports and indeed Nigerian companies like Comet Shipping Agencies could handle mother vessels,” said Carrodano, who was elated by the development.
Mr. Carrodano gave credit to Mr. Sunil Verghese, the Port Harcourt Manager of Comet Shipping and his dedicated staff including the management of NPA Port Harcourt, the Customs Area Controller of Onne Port Command, Comptroller Auwal Mohammed, for their seamless collaboration to ensure that this feat was achieved.
The berthing of MV Lady Jane at the Onne Port is yet another testimonial to the competence and operational wherewithal of WACT and co, as well indeed the commitment of the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority to service delivery.
It will be recalled that WACT and NPA in August 2020 WACT berthed Maersk Stadelhorn, the largest ever cargo vessel to call the nation’s port at its terminal in Onne port. The containership has overall length of 300metres and 48.2metres beam.
Maersk Stadelhorn has about 10,000 TEU (Twenty Equivalent Units) container capacity carriage, and berthed successfully on Sunday 15th August at 1600hrs.