Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said the arrival of the largest container-roll-on-roll-off (RORO) ship, ‘ MV Great Lagos’, to Tin-Can Island Port is an expression of confidence of the international community in Nigeria and proof that the business environment is progressively getting better.
Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by his Deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, stated this yesterday at the MV Great Lagos, maiden call to the Port Terminal Multipurpose Limited (PTML) at the Tin Can Island Port Complex, Lagos, owned by the Grimaldi Group.
Also speaking, the Minister for Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Magdalene Ajani, said the successful berthing of the vessel testifies to the dedication of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and PTML to enhance efficiency at the port.
The Minister commended Grimaldi Group and PTML for deploying the vessel to Nigeria and for adding value to the country’s economy.
Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mohammed Bello-Koko, said apart from the high loading capacity and several other distinctive features of the vessel, the authority is fascinated by the great attention to environmental impact that was infused into its construction.
He said the G5-class vessel is technologically equipped to reduce CO2 emissions per transported tonne up to 43 per cent ahead of previous classifications.
Bello-Koko said this signposts the seriousness of Nigeria’s commitment to the dictates of the 2023 International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) GreenHouse Gas (GHG) Strategy, which envisages a reduction in the carbon intensity of international shipping by at least 40 per cent by the year 2030.
He said the launch of sister ship ‘Great Antwerp,’ and the christening of this vessel ‘Great Lagos’ symbolises the fact that the Nigerian business environment is progressively getting better.
He said with shipping volumes promising to get higher, forward-looking investments such as this one will certainly have a big impact in the long run.
In his welcome address, the Managing Director of PTML, Mr. Ascanio Russo, said the new ultramodern mega ship is a marvel of modern engineering and environmental consciousness, stretching 290 meters in length with a beam of 38 meters and a weight of over 45,000 tonnes.
The ship, he said, can transport 4.7 kilometres of rolling freight, 2,500 Car Equivalent Units (CEUs), and 2,000 Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs).
He said MV GREAT LAGOS is the second of the G5-class of ships recently launched by the Grimaldi Group and named after Nigeria’s commercial capital, which it has served for many decades.
Russo said for more than six decades, the Grimaldi Group has been a cornerstone in the development of trade and maritime relations with Nigeria, a journey of mutual growth, understanding, and unwavering commitment.
“The arrival of the “Great Lagos” is not just an addition to our fleet but a reaffirmation of our devotion to the Nigerian economy and its vibrant economic capital. The “Great Lagos” is amongst the largest ships ever built in its class.
“This is not just an upgrade; it is a leap into the future of maritime transport and we are proud that we are witnessing this in Nigeria,” he stated.
He said this vessel stands as a testament to the group’s enthusiasm to achieve the minimum environmental impact.
Russo said with technological advancements allowing for a reduction of CO2 emissions by up to 43 per cent per tonne transported, the “Great Lagos” is a beacon of sustainable maritime transport, setting new industry standards.
He added that the terminal stands as a clear demonstration of the group’s ambitions, as it has in the last year alone, we invested over $20 million to upgrade its facilities to receive the vessel.
