Posted on June 25, 2025
As Nigeria heightens its campaign for a seat on the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council, it has quietly welcomed a containership which could not only help its bid with a promise of climate-resilient shipping, but also open up a crucial trade route.
The Kota Oasis, operated by Singapore-based Pacific International Lines (PIL), is among a new generation of liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered vessels designed to help the shipping industry reduce emissions in line with international targets.
The 260-metre-long vessel, with an 8,200 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) capacity, berthed at the Onne Multipurpose Terminal (OMT) in Rivers State on Friday after an earlier call at Lagos’ Apapa Port.
It is the first of PIL’s new “O” class ships and one of only a few in the world equipped to run on both LNG and, eventually, bio-methane.
The visit comes at a moment of increased activity on the diplomatic front. Adegboyega Oyetola, Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, recently met with maritime leaders at the United Nations Ocean Conference in France, pledging that Nigeria would champion equitable regulation and climate-resilient shipping, particularly for developing countries and small island states.
Officials at PIL say the Kota Oasis reflects a broader shift toward cleaner energy in international shipping, which accounts for roughly 3 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.
The industry has committed to reaching net-zero emissions by 2050 under the IMO’s revised climate strategy, with interim targets starting in 2030.
New technical rules like the Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) and Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI) are already in effect.
“This vessel is a testament to the shift toward cleaner, greener shipping solutions,” said Nicolo Scannavini, managing director of Onne Multipurpose Terminal, upon receiving the Kota Oasis.
For bilateral trade, an opportunity opens up. PIL seeks to expand its operations in West Africa and open up a direct trade route between Nigeria and Asia.
“This shows how serious we are about long-term investment in West Africa,” said Dhruv Kohli, PIL’s regional head of operations, logistics, and procurement.
A direct trade route between Nigeria and Asia could cut costs for importers and exporters and reduce delays due to multiple transhipment points.
Still, analysts caution that isolated port calls will need to be matched by local infrastructure and policy support if Nigeria intends to participate meaningfully in emerging “green corridors” of low-emission trade.
Steen Knudsen, terminal manager at APM Terminals Apapa, said that improved port operations, including faster turnaround times, help shipping lines conserve fuel and reduce emissions, even as terminal upgrades will enable Apapa to accommodate even larger vessels in the future.
LNG bunkering facilities remain limited in West Africa, and while Nigeria has pledged to invest in its blue economy, implementation timelines remain unclear.
The Kota Oasis is the second LNG-powered ship to call at Nigerian ports, following the CMA CGM Scandola.
