Cargo volume rises by 90% at ports

Not less than 18 vessels would berth at the Apapa and Tin Can Island Ports this week as growing confidence in the economy has seen a major surge in the volume and sources of cargoes entering the country.

Data from the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Shipping Position at the weekend showed that 18 vessels are expected to berth at Apapa and Tin Can Island Ports from today, through mid-February.

This represented an increase of 89.7 per cent over the 152,017.64 metric tons recorded in the previous week.

The report indicated that the vessels were laden with a combined cargo of 6,985 of 20-foot equivalent container units (FCL) and 284,585.222 metric tons of bulk, petroleum products, and general cargo.

A breakdown of the cargo spread indicated that APMT would receive the largest cargo volume for the period – a four container vessels with a combined 3,554 FCL, followed by Tincan Island Container Terminal (TICT) with two vessels berthing 800 FCL, while major shipping lines including Maersk, COSCO, Mediterranean Shipping Company, Hapag-Lloyd, and Ocean Network Express handle the remaining volume.

Five vessels are scheduled across both ports today. At Tin Can Island, the ALEXANDRIA BRIDGE (IMO 9409039), a 261.50-meter container vessel operated by Ocean Network Express (Nigeria) Limited, is expected at Ports & Cargo Handling Services with 187 FCL, while the MSC GEORGIA II (IMO 9357107), a 204-meter container ship managed by Mediterranean Shipping Company (Nigeria) Limited, is scheduled at Fivestars Logistics carrying 300 FCL.

The MSC SUN F (IMO 9223904), a 143.11-meter container vessel operated by MSC, is expected at MRS Oil and Gas Shipping with 180 FCL, while the ZHONG CHANG QI SHENG (IMO 9566942), a 189.99-meter general cargo vessel managed by GMT Shipping Nigeria Limited, is scheduled at Niger Dock with 17,453 metric tons of general cargo. In Apapa, the HUDSON (IMO 9878010), a 154.31-meter petroleum tanker handled by WAPS, is expected at Bulk Oil Plant (BOP) at 3:29 PM carrying 30,000 metric tons of AGO.

On Tuesday, two vessels are scheduled. The MAERSK CAPE COAST (IMO 9525314), a 249.12-meter container vessel handled by Maersk Nigeria Limited, is expected at APM Terminal in Apapa at 4:06 PM carrying 1,171 FCL, while the ELLIREA (IMO 9757008), a 198-meter bulk carrier operated by Allison Shipping Agency Limited, is scheduled at Josepdam Port Service at Tin Can Island with 29,100 metric tons of wheat.

On Thursday, three vessels are scheduled. At Apapa, the NAVIOS MAGNOLIA (IMO 9332250), a 27.17-meter container ship operated by COSCO, is expected at APM Terminal at 3:24 PM with 478 FCL, followed by the MAERSK CHENNAI (IMO 9525338), a 249.12-meter container vessel managed by Maersk Nigeria Limited, scheduled at APM Terminal at 4:45 PM carrying 1,905 FCL. At Tin Can Island, the MSC LAUSANNE VI (IMO 9320398), a 283-meter container vessel operated by Mediterranean Shipping Company (Nigeria) Limited, is expected at TICT with 400 FCL.

The schedule continued with the DESERT LION (IMO 1018030), a 199.99-meter bulk carrier operated by ABTL, scheduled at Apapa Bulk Terminals Limited on Friday, February 13 at 3:04 PM with 54,077.72 metric tons of wheat.

On Sunday, February 15, two vessels are expected. The UNITY EXPLORER (IMO 9726035), a 199.96-meter bulk carrier handled by Bluestar Shipping, is scheduled at Greenview Development in Apapa at 3:00 PM carrying 55,000 metric tons of sugar, while the MANDARIN (IMO 9239812), a 186.31-meter bulk carrier operated by African Ports Services Limited, is expected at Josepdam Port Service at Tin Can Island with 9,000 metric tons of malt.

The schedule would be rounded off with the DESERT OASIS (IMO 9543782), a 193.07-meter bulk carrier operated by ABTL, expected at Apapa Bulk Terminals on Monday, February 16 at 4:53 PM carrying 54,073.64 metric tons of wheat.

This increasing cargo trend has been consistent over the last two weeks. Last week, a total of 20 vessels berthed at Lagos ports carrying 10,273 containers and 152,017.064 metric tons of bulk and petroleum cargo, alongside 1,150 units of used vehicles. This figure was a significant increase over that of the penultimate week which recorded 18 vessels expected with 6,985 containers and 284,585.222 metric tons of cargo.

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Stakeholders in the maritime sector expressed optimism that the sustained cargo volume berthing at the country’s seaports reflected growing confidence in the economy.

Industry experts noted that the diverse cargo mix, spanning containers, bulk commodities, petroleum products, and vehicles, not only demonstrated the ports’ capacity to handle varied trade requirements, but also a statement to the Nigerian economy’s rebound.

An industry expert, John Ndu, noted that with a sound economic reform now in place by the government, importers and businessmen are now more inclined to doing more business in the country. This, he said, was a testimony to the volume of cargo throughput being experienced of late.

Industry players said that with sustained cargo volume, the sector is opening up for greater economic activities, with capacity to boost the country’s GDP in the long run.

They noted that the consistent flow of essential commodities such as wheat, sugar, petroleum products, and containerised goods demonstrates the resilience of Nigeria’s international trade and the effectiveness of recent policy interventions in the maritime sector.