By Erewunmi Peace

In a landmark development for Nigeria’s maritime and logistics industry, the nation’s first indigenous container vessel, M.V. Ocean Dragon, has officially berthed at Tin Can Island Port in Lagos, marking a bold step toward trade independence and regional integration.

The 349-TEU capacity vessel, operated by Clarion Shipping West Africa Ltd, arrived on Tuesday, July 1st, carrying over 350 containers—a symbol of Nigeria’s ambition to dominate coastal shipping across the West African corridor.

“This is not just a ship—it’s a national achievement,” said Bernadine Eloka, Vice President of Clarion Shipping. “We are proud to deploy a fully Nigerian-managed container liner to serve the needs of our economy and people.”

Connecting West Africa Through Coastal Shipping

M.V. Ocean Dragon will serve major ports in Benin, Togo, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and The Gambia, offering faster, more affordable alternatives to road freight. The vessel is also expected to scale its services to South Africa and Egypt in line with the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).

With 70% of the crew made up of Nigerians, the operation reflects a deep commitment to local talent development, job creation, and compliance with Nigeria’s Cabotage Law, which mandates local participation in domestic shipping.

Economic Impact

The arrival of Ocean Dragon is expected to:

Reduce pressure on Nigeria’s congested roads

Lower container transport costs

Cut turnaround time for businesses

Enhance Nigeria’s role in intra-African trade

Eloka added that a second, larger vessel is set to arrive directly from China, eliminating the need for foreign transshipment hubs and further positioning Nigeria as a key logistics player.

Strategic Partnerships Made It Happen

Clarion Shipping revealed that the project was made possible through strong collaborations with Nigerian regulatory agencies, marine authorities, and financial partners.

“We received immense support from stakeholders who understood what this means for Nigeria. This is the future of trade,” said Eloka.