The Calabar Port says it has received a cargo ship with 204 heavy-duty trucks, 22 cubic meters of pipes and other containers after three years.
The Port Manager, Mr Olumati Festus, on Friday disclosed this shortly after the vessel berthed in Calabar.
Mr Festus, said the rumour making round that nothing is happening in Calabar Port is fake.
According to him, “the significance of the berthing of this vessel is to tell the world that Calabar Port is active and working.”
He said in the past three years, it has never been like this: “We are happy to tell the world that we are receiving a cargo vessel that we have not had in the past three years,” he said.
“The length of this vessel is 190, and this has never happened in recent time in Calabar Port,” Festus said. “The cargo onboard is 204 trucks, 22 cubic meters of general cargo, especially pipes and we also have some containers in it.”
“In line with the policy of the Managing Director of NPA, Mr Mohammed Bello-Koko, to revamp the port and attract customers, he has given us the necessary equipment, working materials and all that is required to work and make the port viable,” Festus stated.
Having said that the arrival of the vessel will generate revenue and employment for residents in Calabar, he added that over 50 persons were going to support the shipping company in the discharge of the trucks and containers.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the General Manager of Eco Marine Terminals, Calabar, Mr Edward Akpan, said that the vessel came into Calabar Port from Singapore.
“When vessels berth in Calabar Port, the owners are always here to ensure that their cargo is not dented,” Mr Akpan added. “They have been so amazed with recommendations on our path for a job Welldone.”
He said as a terminal, they woo their customers by giving them some incentives for them to berth in Calabar Port.
“Our customers are satisfied with our mode of operations,” Akpan said. “We have some professionals that are actually handling the operations.
He said they have handled safe delivery of cargo over the years without any dent or damage, saying their customers trust them on that and “it is a very clean record for us,” he boasted.
According to him, when vessels berth in Calabar Port, the owners are always there to ensure that their cargo is not dented, as the owners of the cargo sees Calabar Port as a preferred terminal because of the support given to them over the years.