Nigeria’s First Indigenous Container Vessel, M.V. Ocean Dragon, Docks in Lagos

Nigeria has marked a significant milestone in its maritime industry as the country’s first indigenous container vessel, M.V. Ocean Dragon, berthed at Tin Can Island Port in Lagos on Tuesday, carrying more than 350 containers.

During the reception ceremony, Mrs. Benedine Eloka, Vice President of Clarion Shipping, hailed the vessel’s arrival as the realization of a long-term strategic vision made possible through close collaboration among financial institutions, regulatory agencies, and other key stakeholders.

She explained that M.V. Ocean Dragon was introduced to tackle persistent logistics challenges faced by Nigerian importers and exporters, especially in moving containerized cargo within Nigeria and across West Africa.

With a capacity of 349 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs), the vessel is expected to ease pressure on road transport by offering a faster and more reliable coastal shipping option.

“The vessel is built not only for Nigerian coastal operations but also for regional services to ports in Cotonou, Lome, Ghana, and Sierra Leone, and potentially further afield to Egypt and South Africa,” Eloka said.

She disclosed that bookings have already commenced for shipments to Ghana and Lome, reflecting growing demand for the service.

Clarion Shipping is also preparing to deploy a second vessel that will sail directly from China to Lagos, a move aimed at eliminating delays and complexities linked to transshipment through intermediary ports.

Reflecting on the project’s journey, Eloka noted that securing financing for the vessel’s acquisition was among the toughest challenges the company faced.

Despite these hurdles, she expressed confidence in the venture’s prospects, citing an eager customer base ready to embrace the new shipping solution.