On Wednesday, April 16, the Onne Multipurpose Terminal (OMT) marked another milestone when the Kota Carum—at 301.43 metres the largest vessel ever to dock at the Onne Federal Ocean Terminal—slipped into berths 9 and 10 at 10:50 a.m. Flying the Singaporean flag under Pacific International Lines, the container ship will discharge 1,250 boxes and load 1,619 over its 55-hour stay.
Jim Stewart, OMT’s Chief Operating Officer, hailed the arrival as a sign of the terminal’s rapid growth. “Welcoming the Kota Carum builds on last year’s Kota Cempaka call and shows that our infrastructure upgrades are paying off,” he said. Stewart pointed to new gantry cranes and streamlined cargo-handling systems that have slashed turnaround times and opened the door to direct visits by ultra-large vessels.
By drawing ships of this scale straight into Onne, Nigeria avoids costly feeder transshipments via smaller ports, Stewart explained. “Importers and exporters enjoy lower freight rates, while the country benefits from higher port revenues,” he added. He also thanked the Nigerian Ports Authority for its close cooperation—especially Port Manager Abdulrahmon Hussain and NPA Managing Director Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho—for granting the depth and berth clearances needed to accommodate the record-breaking call.
Echoing the call for further investment, Stewart urged federal authorities to step up dredging efforts. “Deepening the channel is the next logical step if Onne is to handle even larger ships and cement its role as West Africa’s premier gateway,” he said.
Chief Pilot Yakubu Ezra underscored the NPA’s readiness to guide mega-vessels safely into the harbour. “Our crews have the training and technology to pilot any ship,” he noted, pointing to the seamless maneuvers that brought the Kota Carum alongside with precision.
With global shipping lines increasingly eyeing West African routes, the successful berthing of the Kota Carum signals Onne’s emergence as a port of choice. As maritime traffic continues to swell, the terminal’s modern equipment, strategic location, and skilled workforce are drawing ever-greater volumes of international trade.