Nigeria’s premier seaport, Lagos Port Complex (LPC), Apapa, Friday berthed the largest container carrier in its history when a 300m Length Overall (LOA) Vessel ‘Kota Cantik’ called at the port.
Speaking at the event, the Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mr. Mohammed Bello- Koko said the development is a testament to the Authority’s sustained investment in port infrastructure and equipment that enable operational excellence.
The vessel christened Kota Cantik, which is translated to mean “Beautiful Point,” is designed to carry up to 6600 TEUS at a time, signaling a turning point and signposting the possibilities that improved infrastructure and equipment upgrades can harbinger.
While commissioning two ultra-modern control towers aimed at boosting the safety of navigation and scaling up Apapa and Tin Can Ports to acceptable international standards, the Managing Director reiterated the Authority’s resolve to “equip the ports for performance that meets and indeed exceeds stakeholders’ expectations.”
Responding to the development, the Port Manager of the Lagos Port Complex, Mr. Charles Bamidele Okaga, posited that Apapa Port is poised to continuously improve on the quality of service that made this milestone possible.
He equally assured the liner, Pacific International Line (PIL), that the requisite efficiencies to berth the 350-meter LOA expected are already in place.
This exceptional delivery by Apapa Port, coming on the heels of the reception in the month of May of MSc Maureen, a vessel with a length overall (LOA) of 300m and a breadth of 40m, which berthed at the Tin Can Island Port Complex in Lagos, demonstrates the Authority’s readiness to create and sustain improved performance.
