By Godwin Oritse

On Wednesday, APM Terminals Apapa celebrated a significant milestone as the largest containership ever to dock in Nigeria—the EA CENTAURUS—arrived at the Lagos Port Complex Apapa. This historic event marked the first visit of this vessel to a Nigerian port, setting a new benchmark for Apapa as Nigeria’s leading port.

Owned by COSCO Shipping and registered under the Singaporean flag, the EA CENTAURUS measures 272 meters in length, 43 meters in width, and has a draft of 14.3 meters. With a capacity of 7,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), this monumental ship signals an advancement in Nigeria’s port capabilities.

The arrival was celebrated by senior representatives from APM Terminals, COSCO Shipping, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), and the Nigeria Customs Service, underscoring the vessel’s importance to Nigeria’s trade sector.

Steen Knudsen, Terminal Manager at APM Terminals Apapa, highlighted the economic impact of receiving such a large vessel, noting, “The arrival of EA CENTAURUS signifies a transformative shift in the types of vessels Apapa can accommodate. Larger ships allow for greater economies of scale, which can help reduce import costs for Nigeria. This achievement reflects Nigeria’s growing trade capacity and APM Terminals’ dedication to supporting this growth.”

Knudsen added that consolidating more cargo on a single vessel enhances operational efficiency and reduces freight rates, directly benefiting Nigeria’s economy by lowering import costs and fostering increased trade activity.

Caroline Aubert-Adewuyi, Chief Commercial Officer of APM Terminals Nigeria, expressed her enthusiasm for the collaboration between APM Terminals and COSCO Shipping. “This vessel, with its 7,000 TEU capacity, marks a new level of partnership with COSCO and reinforces Nigeria’s commitment to bolstering import and export capabilities,” she said. “We’re excited about the positive impact this will have on our economy, as well as for our customers and trade partners.”

COSCO Shipping Lines Nigeria’s Managing Director, Rex Wang, emphasized the strategic significance of EA CENTAURUS’ arrival, noting, “This is a milestone for COSCO, being the largest vessel we’ve handled in this region, and it highlights our expanding services in West Africa. We’re optimistic about an economic recovery driven by increased exports of commodities like minerals, sesame seeds, and cashews.”

Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, Customs Area Controller at Apapa Command, reaffirmed the Nigeria Customs Service’s commitment to efficient cargo processing. “This achievement underscores our dedication to facilitating quick and efficient handling of larger shipments. We are committed to supporting trade facilitation, which increases revenue and encourages more large vessels to dock at our ports,” he said.

Commenting on the vessel’s arrival, Adebowale Lawal Ibrahim, Port Manager of Lagos Port Complex Apapa, represented by Traffic Manager Jimoh Anthony, underscored the importance of handling such a “giant vessel.” He commented, “Expanding our ability to accommodate larger imports and exports is essential for Nigeria’s economic progress, and we applaud APM Terminals and COSCO Shipping for helping us reach this milestone.”

The arrival of EA CENTAURUS at Apapa is part of COSCO’s commitment to strengthening trade routes between Asia, Africa, and other international markets, underscoring the company’s focus on expanding shipping capacity in West Africa.