According to Nigerian media, in the early morning of November 9th local time, a huge blue vessel slowly docked at the berth of the onne Multi-Purpose Terminal (OMT) in Nigeria - this is the MSC Doreen V, the first cargo ship to directly sail to this terminal from China and the Far East. This "first voyage" not only broke the shipping record of Nigeria's eastern ports, but also made the trade route between China, Nigeria, the Far East, and West Africa faster, more cost-effective, and more stable.
First, let's look at the "protagonist": how "load-bearing" is this cargo ship?
As the core vessel of the "Iloilo route" operated by Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), the MSC Doria V boasts impressive specifications:
With a carrying capacity of 5,089 TEU, it is one of the largest container ships ever to dock at the eastern ports of Nigeria;
With a total deadweight of 68,000 tons and a length of 294 meters (equivalent to three football fields connected end to end), it can neatly stack nearly 10 layers of containers on its deck;
Vessels flying the Liberian flag can depart from ports in China and the Far East, sailing directly without transshipment through a third location.
△ Group photo of the OMT team with the crew of MSC Doreen V (from left: Jim Stewart, Chief Operating Officer of OMT; Oscar Aguocha, Manager of MSC East Nigeria; Captain Nithiyakumar Kartiban; Nicolo Scannavini, General Manager of OMT; Charles Okogbue, Business Manager of OMT; Ayodele Olatubosun, Head of Safety and Logistics)
How "attractive" is direct flight? These benefits are too substantial
"Previously, when shipping goods from China to eastern Nigeria, we had to first transfer them to Lagos or other ports, and just waiting for the transfer took 10-15 days, with the freight cost being over 20% higher," said a local trader. This direct flight has directly addressed these pain points:
1. Time cut in half: It will arrive in 40 days, 20 days faster than before
Oscar Aguocha, Regional Manager of MSC Nigeria, revealed that this direct shipping route will shorten the transportation time from China/the Far East to eastern Nigeria from over 60 days to 40-42 days. For enterprises that require time-sensitive goods such as fresh produce and electronic components, this is equivalent to "speeding up the supply chain by half".
2. Cost reduction: By eliminating transit fees, enterprises become more competitive
Nicolo Scannavini, General Manager of OMT, calculated the cost: "Direct shipping eliminates the warehousing, loading and unloading, and demurrage fees associated with the transshipment process, reducing the freight cost of enterprises by 15%-20%. Moreover, the 'scale effect' of large ships is more pronounced. The more cargo they transport, the lower the cost per container."
3. Reliability improvement: No longer fear "transit delays"
In the past, when goods were transshipped through a third place, they were often delayed due to port congestion and document connection issues. Now, with direct shipping and "one-stop port arrival", goods are directly unloaded, allowing enterprises to precisely plan production and sales, without having to worry about "when the goods will arrive".
Why is it called a "game changer"?
For Nigeria and even West African trade, the significance of this direct flight goes far beyond "saving a few days and a few dollars":
Nigeria's non-oil trade is set to gain momentum: Nigeria has always aspired to reduce its reliance on oil exports. Direct flights will enable local agricultural products and handicrafts to be transported to China more quickly, while also facilitating the entry of Chinese machinery and household appliances into the West African market;
"Rise" of Eastern Ports: In the past, most of Nigeria's cargo transportation was concentrated at the Lagos Port, leading to severe congestion. The direct shipping service at onne Port can divert the pressure from Lagos, making the east a new logistics hub;
Confident in market growth: MSC revealed that the cargo demand in the eastern Nigerian market has increased by 27% year-on-year. The direct shipping route is precisely designed to match this growth and attract more global shipping companies to pay attention to West Africa.
△ Nicolo Scannavini (second from right), General Manager of OMT, posed with his team in front of the MSC Doria V
Ang Nei Wharf: A "Competent" Capable of Receiving "Large Orders"
The key to welcoming the first direct-call giant ship this time lies in the hard power of onne Marine Terminal (OMT) - operated by International Container Terminals Services Inc. (ICTSI), it serves as the "logistics trump card" in eastern Nigeria:
Capable of handling the largest ships in the region without lifting gear, with equipment upgraded multiple times;
The yard has a large area, enabling fast evacuation of goods and avoiding "difficulty in unloading upon arrival at port";
The service covers the offshore energy industry in Nigeria, as well as the import and export markets in the South-South and Southeast regions, and has previously attracted many international customers through efficient operations.
However, OMT also has "small expectations": General Manager Scannavini called on the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) to accelerate the channel dredging project at onne Port. "If we can build a second turning basin and deepen the channel, larger cargo ships can dock in the future, further consolidating our hub status."
Conclusion: Behind the direct flights lies a "new opportunity" for China-Nepal trade
From Chinese ports to the onne terminal in Nigeria, the maiden voyage of the MSC Doria V not only opens up a more efficient shipping route, but also reveals new possibilities for Sino-Nigerian trade. Perhaps in the future, more direct shipping routes will be opened, allowing more West African goods to enter China through this route, and enabling "Made in China" products to serve West African consumers more conveniently.
