…Nigeria receives ship exceedingly bigger than a football field, able to carry over 15,000 containers

The Minister of Maritime and Blue Economy, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola on Monday, at Lekki Deep-sea Port, Lagos, warned that the Federal Government will sanction vessels that contravene sulphur regulations.

Oyetola said this at the Arrival Ceremony of the ‘CMA CGM Scandola’ currently the largest liquified natural gas-powered container vessel, plying the West African route.

Built in 2020, with a carrying capacity of 15,128 TEU, the CMA CGM SCANDOLA (IMO: 9859129) is sailing under the flag of Malta. Her current draught was reportedly 13.4 metres; while her length overall (LOA) is 366 meters and her width is 51.11 meters.

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She was well received by top professionals and experts from three vessels, among them, the UROMI, from the Lagos LTT Management.

*The CMA CGM Scandola

“To put action behind our word, we have taken concrete steps towards the procurement of necessary tools to enhance NPA’s capacity for Sulphur analysis, as well as put in place a sanction regime for vessels who contravene the Sulphur regulations.”, the Minister, Adegboyega Oyetola who was represented by the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mr Mohammed Bello-Koko, said, stressing Government’s commitment to enforce compliance.

“This will ensure we minimise air pollution created in the shipping industry by reducing the sulphur content of the fuels that ships use.

“So, transition to the use of natural gas which is more environmentally friendly by vessels plying our waterways, is a most welcome development.

“This is driven by the larger national interest due to the fact that Nigeria’s gas quality is reputed to be high and virtually without sulphur,” he said.

According to him, shipping has a pivotal role to play in the global decarbonisation efforts.

Oyetola however, commended the management of the NPA for its compliance with the ministerial directive to take cognizance of global energy transition in its port modernisation project.

The Minister highlighted that aside from the vessel’s distinctive feature of eco-friendliness Scandola ranks amongst the largest container ships to be calling in West Africa with 15,000 TEUs (twenty equivalent units).

He said with shipping volumes promising to get higher, forward-looking investments such as the Scandola would certainly have a big impact in the long run.

“We will continue to support the NPA in its efforts at ensuring stakeholders’ compliance with the International Maritime Organisation sulphur regulation on Nigerian Waterways,” Oyetola said.

Earlier, the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu had observed that receiving such a mind-blowing size of the vessel called for celebration.

“I think it’s a big feat, it’s something that we need to roll out drums and get proud of, we’re putting Lekki Deep Seaport, we’re putting Lagos, we’re putting Nigeria into the world’s global logistics marine business.

“This is a business that has been a privilege to a few countries,” he said, noting that the vision of Nigeria emerging as a transhipment hub has suddenly become truly realistic.

Also speaking, the Managing Director of Lekki Deep Seaport, Du Rougang, said the berthing of the vessel was creating a new plan for Nigeria’s ports.

“We want to ensure that Lekki Port plays a major role in the nation’s maritime industry,” he also observed. The CMA CGM Group had earlier announced the upcoming arrival of CMA CGM SCANDOLA at the new Lekki Deep Sea Port in Nigeria on Sunday, the 28th of January. 

“Lekki Deep Seaport’s natural depth of 16 metres added to its multifaceted efficiencies, state-of-the-art equipment and robust infrastructure which offers a  capacity of up to 1.2 million TEUs in this phase 1 positions the Port to serve as a mega transhipment hub, to Nigeria’s neighbouring countries in the Gulf of Guinea and beyond”, the Minister further said.. 

It is however instructive, that before reaching Lekki, the vessel reportedly first called the port of Tema, Ghana, on the 23rd of January as CMA CGM’s first liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered containership to call ports in West Africa. 

The Maritime First also learnt that following the call in Nigeria, CMA CGM SCANDOLA will continue its voyage and sail to Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. 

At 15,000-TEU, the containership no doubt ranks amongst the largest vessels to be calling in West Africa, while the CMA CGM Group unarguably demonstrates its commitment to supporting West Africa’s supply chains by increasing deployed capacity and a willingness to decarbonize Shipping and Logistics’ in the West African region.