Lagos Pilotage District Welcomes Largest Commercial Vessel With 15,000 TEU Capacity at Tin-can Port

Harboursandport.com: Lagos - Tin-can Island Port, TCIP, yesterday welcomed a 300 meters long vessel with 15,000 Twenty Equivalent Units, TEUs of containers in a voyage.

From left:  Mr. Andrew Lynch MD  MSC Nigeria Ltd, Jibril Buba   PM TCIP, Deputy Comptroller Custom TCIP Gambo .I. Aliu, and a guest at the arrival of MSC Maureen.

The vessel, M.S.C Maureen is considered the largest vessel to have berthed at the Lagos pilotage district, the closest being a 275 meters long vessel.

The Port Manager, Tin-can Island Port Buba Jubril, while speaking at the quay, hailed the successful berthing of M.S.C Maureen (Panama), describing the berthing of the vessel as a groundbreaking achievement at the TCIP. 

The Port Manager noted that obvious challenges have not however stopped the Port from doing its day-to-day operations excellently.

Also at the quays the Deputy Comptroller of Enforcement TCIP Customs Command, Apapa, Lagos. G.I. Aliu opined that as the Customs, they see this as an affirmation of the standards readily available at the Port which is a manifestation of efficiency and indeed a big revenue earner for the country "This container carrier can carry about 15,000 TEU of containers and this portends more revenue and more development for the nation.

Similarly, The TCIP Harbour Master Capt. Ibrahim Habib said with the arrival of M.S.C Maureen, they have been able to maximize the potential of our channels" that before now we had only berthed a vessel with 275 metres length and now 300 meters long adding that with that achievements we are gradually pushing the limits and the vessel have helped to increase the investors' confidence on our competencies and will surely attract more economic values." 

Pilot Emmanuel Samaila who spoke on behalf of other pilots said it was a great achievement to bring a length of 300 meters to TCIP adding that this marks double of the kind of vessels that usually call at the Port.

In his own speech, the Managing Director of M.S.C Nigeria Limited Mr Andrew Lynch said it was a great day which they have been working towards and had several simulations and meetings among stakeholders, adding that it would bring greater benefit to Lagos importers and exporters to have larger container vessels in ward and will make the Port more competitive.