The Clarion MV Ocean Dragon, Nigeria's first fully owned container vessel, has docked at the Tin Can Island Port in Lagos to enhance trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). This vessel is a significant step towards addressing logistical challenges in Nigeria's shipping industry and promoting intra-African trade.
*Key Features of the Vessel:*
- *Capacity*: The vessel has a capacity of 349 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) and can transport cargo across Nigerian ports and West African trade corridors.
- *Route*: The vessel will service ports in Nigeria, Benin Republic, Togo, Ghana, Cameroon, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Egypt, South Africa, and others.
- *Crew*: 70% of the vessel's crew are Nigerian seafarers, marking a significant milestone in promoting local expertise in the maritime industry ¹ ² ³.
*Benefits and Impact:*
- *Efficient Logistics*: The vessel provides a seamless alternative to container haulage by road, reducing reliance on trucks and enhancing trade efficiency.
- *Job Creation*: The enforcement of Nigeria's Cabotage Law, which reserves domestic maritime operations for Nigerian-owned vessels, is expected to create jobs and encourage local investment.
- *AfCFTA Goals*: The vessel's operations will contribute to actualizing the AfCFTA goals by providing reliable and efficient shipping services across West Africa ².
*Future Plans:*
- *New Vessel*: Clarion Shipping is expanding its ocean fleet with a new high-capacity vessel with 1,780 TEUs set to arrive in Nigeria soon, further enhancing its services.
- *West African Corridor*: The new vessel will serve the West African corridor, linking ports in Liberia, Togo, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, and Nigeria ².
