Onne: Bad Roads May Mar Birthing Of Largest Ship |The Source

By Uche Mbah

The history that was made Sunday seems now like a Greek gift: The roads to Onne port is reportedly unmotorable, making it a herculean task for the owners of the goods that were brought in through the port to be evacuated by the owners.

The congestion of Lagos ports  forced the Nigerian Ports Authority to authorize the diversion of one of the biggest ships to berth in Nigeria to Onne port.

The Federal Ocean Terminal, Onne, in Rivers State, Sunday, August 16, 2020, saw the berthing of the biggest container vessel to ever dock at a Nigerian seaport.

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) said the arrival of the Maersk line Stardelhorn, which has a  total capacity of 9,971(TEUs) with length overall of 300 meters, and the width of 48 metres was received at the port at 16:20 hours on August 15. It is a flagship from Singapore.

The vessel has a total capacity of 9,971(TEUs), according to the General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications, Mr. Adams Jatto, in a statement on Sunday, August 16, 2020.

“The vessel, which was brought in from Fairway Bouy Bonny, with the aid of three Tugboats, operated by three of NPA’s pilots was received by the Manager of the Onne Ports, Mr Alhasssan Abubakar.

“NPA is delighted to state that the landmark arrival of the biggest gearless Maerskline vessel at Onne Ports is a result of management’s determination to improve the patronage of the Eastern Ports.

“It is an indication of the fact that the Eastern Ports are equipped to receive all manners of vessels and an expansion of the options of consignees in the eastern and northern parts of the country.

“The management of the NPA congratulates its team at Onne Ports.  Management also appreciates all stakeholders at the Onne Ports for their cooperation toward seeing that the vessel berthed safely without any challenge.”

But despite this historic feat, there are indications that the roads leading to the ports, are currently unmotorable, particularly  for the kind of vehicles that carry containers.

This may make nonsense of the historic feat.