Onne Multipurpose Terminal (OMT) Chief Operating Officer (COO), Jim Stewart, on Monday, declared that the seaport in Rivers State can host any vessel after the largest vessel, Kota Carum, berthed at the Onne Federal Ocean Terminal (FOT).
The arrival of Kota Carum highlights OMT’s growing role in West Africa’s maritime trade.The successful hosting of Kota Carum strengthens Onne Port’s position as a major gateway for global trade.
Owned by Pacific International Lines (PIL) and flying the Singaporean flag, the 301.43-meter vessel berthed safely at berths 9 and 10 after arriving at 10:30 am. With a capacity of 6,606 TEUs, Kota Carum will discharge 1,250 containers and load 1,619 containers during its 55-hour stay.
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Jim Stewart, OMT’s Chief Operating Officer, called the arrival a major milestone for both the terminal and Nigeria’s maritime industry. “This is not just a win for OMT,” Stewart said. “It’s a win for the Nigerian economy.
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He credited OMT’s infrastructure upgrades, such as new cranes, for improving cargo handling and reducing turnaround time. Stewart noted that hosting larger vessels cuts logistics costs, boosts direct cargo movement, and benefits Nigeria’s economy.
He thanked the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) for their support and called for more government funding to dredge Onne Port channels to accommodate even bigger ships.
“The leadership of the Managing Director, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, has been instrumental in our success. Allowing a vessel of this magnitude to berth at our terminal is a vote of confidence in our capabilities,” Stewart added.
Chief Pilot Yakubu Ezra confirmed NPA’s readiness to manage large vessels, highlighting their training and technology. Ezra stated, “The successful berthing of Kota Carum is evidence of our capacity and professionalism.”
One Response
If this is so, why then do we still have most vessels sent to the Lagos ports, rather than scheduling some to the Onne ports?