PIL Berths Largest Container Vessel At Onne Port, Cutting Costs For Nigerian Traders.
Pacific International Lines (PIL), one of Asia’s foremost shipping companies, has berthed its largest container vessel, MV Kota Carum, at Onne Port in Rivers State — a move set to significantly reduce logistics costs and freight tariffs for Nigerian importers and exporters.
The Singaporean-flagged Kota Carum, measuring an impressive 301.43 metres in length with a carrying capacity of 6,606 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), docked at the Onne Multipurpose Terminal (OMT), utilising berths 9 and 10. The vessel is scheduled for a 55-hour port call during which it will discharge 1,250 containers and load 1,619, including export cargo and empty containers originating from the South-East region.
Speaking at a welcome reception for the vessel, Chief Operating Officer of OMT, Jim Stewart, noted that the ability to berth such large vessels directly at Onne Port eliminates the need for transshipment via smaller feeder vessels. This, he said, translates into significant savings on logistics and lower freight charges for Nigerian traders.
“This development enables more direct cargo movement, enhances efficiency, and generates increased revenue for the country,” Stewart said. “Freight forwarders are major beneficiaries as well, as they avoid the additional costs normally associated with transshipment.”
Stewart attributed this success to PIL’s strategic investments in terminal infrastructure, highlighting the company’s commitment to operational excellence and long-term growth. He also commended the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) for fostering an enabling environment that allows terminals like OMT to thrive.
He pointed to ongoing modernisation efforts — including the acquisition of advanced cranes — as key to improving cargo-handling capacity and reducing vessel turnaround time.
In a call for further government support, Stewart urged the Federal Government to allocate additional funding to deepen and widen the channels at Onne Port through dredging. “We are fully prepared to receive vessels from any shipping line. But to truly unlock Onne Port’s full potential, more dredging is essential,” he emphasised.
Also speaking, the Chief Pilot of Onne Port, Yakubu Ezra, affirmed the NPA’s technical capability to safely manage the arrival of large vessels. He described the successful berthing of Kota Carum as a testament to the agency’s professional expertise and state-of-the-art equipment.
With this milestone, Onne Port continues to position itself as a key player in Nigeria’s maritime and trade landscape, attracting larger vessels and boosting confidence in the country’s port infrastructure.