APM Terminals Apapa received the largest container ship to ever call at Nigeria’s Lagos Port Complex Apapa.
The Singapore-flagged Kota Cantik, operated and managed by Pacific International Lines (PIL), is a 6,606 TEU vessel with a draught of 11.6 metres, length overall (LOA) of 300 metres and beam of 40 metres.
Terminal manager of APM Terminals Apapa, Steen Knudsen noted that one of the advantages of larger vessels is economies of scale through lower slot costs for consignees.
Commercial manager of APM Terminals Apapa, Temilade Ogunniyi agreed, commenting that “The bigger the vessels you berth, the lower your cost and this leads to economies of scale. It also improves the pace of the operations at the terminal, leads to efficiency, reduces waste and delivers a faster turnaround time of vessels, which is a huge benefit to the economy.”
Speaking during a reception for the vessel and its crew, managing director of PIL Nigeria, Kevin Taylor, said consignees and the Nigerian economy will benefit from the vessel call.
“The customers in Nigeria have more opportunities to get cargoes in Lagos and also for competitive exports,” he pointed out.
