Hapag Lloyd Liner makes maiden call at Ports & Cargo Terminal

Segun Oladipupo

SIFAX Group and concessionaire of Terminal C, Tin Can Island Port, Apapa, Lagos, said it had added a new client to its growing clientele list.

The conglomerate stated that the latest addition is Hapag Lloyd AG Limited, a German international shipping and container transportation company which is the world’s fifth largest container carrier in terms of vessel capacity.

Philips Olawunmi Ojo, Officer, Corporate Communications of SIFAX made this known in a press statement made available to our correspondent on Thursday.

The statement said that the shipping line made its maiden call at the terminal recently with one of its largest vessels, Navious Azure, a container ship built in 2007 with gross tonnage of 39,906 tonnes and length overall of 260.5m.

John Jenkins, Managing Director, Ports & Cargo Handling Services Limited, who welcomed the vessel’s crew, expressed the company’s delight at the vessel’s maiden call, adding that the development is a testimony of the terminal’s readiness to provide cutting-edge port terminal services to more clients.

The release quoted Jenkins saying, “We are excited to have this ship berth at our terminal today. We are delighted that Hapag Lloyd, which is one of the world’s largest ocean shipping fleet owners, prefer our terminal for their operations and the shipping line will call frequently at this terminal.

“This business relationship with Hapag Lloyd is one of several partnerships we have been working on in the past few months. This new wave of patronage is a result of the massive investment we have made both in modern equipment, quality personnel and improved processes over the years. All these have translated in better service delivery, which is what an average client wants.”

While responding on behalf of the vessel’s crew members, Captain John Trafiero, who was overwhelmed by the hospitality and excellent service provided by the company, expressed his joy at berthing at one of Africa’s prime ports.

“This is a resounding welcome we have received here today and it would stick in our memories wherever we sail to. Though we are sailing back very soon, my crew and I cannot wait to be back here again,” he said