Clarion Shipping Set To Return Nigeria’s Glory In African Shipping Trade With “Ocean Dragon”
By Loveth Anyaegbunam
In what could be described as Nigeria’s new glory in coastal shipping, MV Ocean Dragon is set to help grow intra-African trade stated to be less than 10 per cent by the World Trade Organization(WTO).
To break this jinx, Clarion Shipping West Africa is aggressively marketing its newly launched container vessel, Ocean Dragon, to shippers, freight forwarders, and market associations as a solution to local shipping logistics bottlenecks and a catalyst for boosting intra-African trade.
Unveiling it at Villa Park Hotel, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos, on Tuesday, the company positioned the container vessel as a strategic investment to deliver faster, cheaper, and more flexible cargo services across Nigerian ports and into regional markets.
Speaking, the Vice President of Clarion Shipping, Mrs. Bernardine Eloka, said Ocean Dragon had already begun operations, moving containers between Calabar and Port Harcourt, with bookings coming in from Abuja, Calabar, and other trading hubs.
“One of our key objectives is to move Nigerian-made products to other African markets quickly and efficiently,” Eloka stated.
She explained that instead of leaving containers stranded at foreign ports for weeks, Ocean Dragon will deliver them within hours, giving Nigerian businesses a competitive edge.
Eloka further disclosed that Clarion had partnered leading global carriers — including AMC, PIL, and Maersk Line — to enable direct shipments from China to Nigeria beginning in October, eliminating costly transshipment delays.
Chief Chinedu Ukatu, President of the Igbo Market Association and chairman of the occasion, described the unveiling as an epoch-making development that will expand Nigeria’s shipping capacity and unlock new trade opportunities under platforms like the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).
“This is not just the launch of a ship; it is the launch of a new phase for Nigeria’s maritime economy. With its increased capacity and eco-friendly design, Ocean Dragon positions Nigerian traders to reach more markets sustainably and efficiently,” Ukatu said.
Clarion’s Regional Manager, Solomon Ogudu, traced the launch to over a decade of investment that transformed the firm from a freight forwarding business into a full-fledged shipping and terminal operator.
He highlighted incentives such as, container deposit waivers, 21 days of free storage, competitive terminal charges, and 24-hour inland clearance.
“Our service model is built around shippers’ needs — cutting costs, improving turnaround, and offering delivery at preferred locations,” Ogudu said.
BOT Chairman BBA, Mrs Bernardine Eloka,Vice President Clarion Shipping West Africa,during the unveiling of the MV Ocean Dragon, a container vessel, Tuesday in Lagos.
The founder, National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders(NAGAFF), Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, urged Nigerian traders to patronize Clarion to strengthen local capacity and reduce dependence on foreign lines. “The forex advantage alone is enough reason for Nigerian shippers to support this indigenous solution,” he said.
The unveiling drew market leaders, shipping agents, and stakeholders nationwide, raising hope of better trade share and competitive advantage under AfCFTA for Nigeria.
The event took different sessions and locations with different market stakeholders, who looked impressed and excited at the menu of waivers and competitive terminal and shipping charges offered by the pitching.
Ocean Dragon is placing Nigeria and West Africa on the map of African regional shipping trade again after the demise of the UK-owned Palm Line, which primarily serviced the extensive coastline of West Africa, from Angola to Morocco between 1949 and 1986.
Also, until it ceased operation in 1995, the defunct Nigerian National Shipping Line(NNSL) operated primarily as an ocean-going carrier but engaged in significant coastal shipping.
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