Clarion Shipping unveils wholly Nigerian container vessel, MV Ocean Dragon, commences direct sailing to China October
Offers mouthwatering incentives to shippers
Maureen Aguta
The indigenous shipping line is returning Nigeria to international dry cargo shipping trade for the first time after the Nigerian National Shipping Line (NNSL).
Speaking, Vice President of Clarion Shipping West Africa, Benardine Eloka,announced that direct shipments from China would begin in October without transshipment delays, offering customers a more efficient logistics chain.
Eloka described the event as a milestone in the company’s mission to provide practical shipping solutions for Nigerian importers and exporters.
Eloka acknowledged key partners, including the company’s Chinese counterparts led by Mr. Peter Leng Lijiang, and local collaborators such as Alhaji Ahmed, Chairman and Managing Director of Hafnaz Oil and Gas, who provided critical bunkering and tugboat support for the vessel.
According to her, Ocean Dragon has already commenced operations, sailing from Calabar to Port Harcourt with empty containers and positioning itself to support Nigerian traders.
Eloka commended Nigerian importers and exporters for their continued support, emphasizing that the company’s progress was driven by their trust and patronage. “With your support, we will bring the solutions that our people deserve,” she said.
According to her, one of the purposes of flagging in Ocean Dragon is to move products produced in Nigeria to other African countries. She added that businesses from Abuja, Calabar, and other regions had already begun making bookings.
Highlighting the vessel’s role in facilitating export, Eloka stressed that Ocean Dragon will drastically cut transit delays at regional ports.
She further said: “Even when your container lands at Lome, instead of leaving them there for weeks, Ocean Dragon can move them within hours to Nigeria,” she assured stakeholders.
The Vice President further revealed that Clarion Shipping has entered into strategic collaborations with global shipping lines, including AMC, AMCGN, PIL, and Maersk Line, to ensure seamless cargo connections between China and Nigeria.
On his part, Founder of NAGAFF and the New Nigerian Peoples Party, (NNPP) ,Dr Boniface Okechukwu Aniebonam,hailed the bold move but Clarion Shipping West Africa,and called on Nigerians to support the initiative by patronising the company
The NAGAFF founder outlined the benefits of patronising the shipping company,some of which include removing the burden of Forex sourcing, as you do your transactions in Nigerian currency.
“We are going to work with you ” Dr Aniebonam assured , adding that ” Clarion is the way to go,and we should take advantage of it.”
Earlier in his welcome address,the President of the Igbo Market Association, Chief Chinedu Ukatu, described the unveiling of Ocean Dragon, a new container vessel owned by Clarion Shipping West Africa, as an “epoch-making event” that will boost Nigeria’s maritime trade and strengthen Africa’s shipping capacity.
Ukatu, who served as chairman of the occasion at the launch held at Villa Park Hotel, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos, lauded Clarion Shipping for investing in cutting-edge maritime technology. He noted that the vessel’s state-of-the-art design reflects global trends in shipping efficiency, sustainability, and capacity expansion.
“This is not just the unveiling of a new ship; it is the unveiling of a future. The Ocean Dragon represents the best of maritime technology and a clear commitment to reducing emissions, protecting the environment, and meeting the growing demands of international trade,” Ukatu declared.
“With this vessel, we can reach deeper into African markets, handle bigger volumes of cargo, and do so sustainably. It is a classic and wonderful achievement that sets a benchmark for our shipping industry,” he said, urging stakeholders to seize the opportunities that the new development presents.
Chief Ukatu further expressed optimism that the Ocean Dragon will serve as a model for sustainable shipping practices in Nigeria and beyond. He commended Clarion Shipping for taking bold steps toward innovation, efficiency, and eco-friendly maritime operations.
“Together, we are not just unveiling a vessel; we are unveiling a future of trade that is sustainable, efficient, and globally competitive,” he concluded.
In his presentation at the unveiling, Solomon Ogudu, Regional Manager of Clarion Shipping West Africa, described the launch as the product of more than a decade of deliberate effort to address Nigeria’s pressing logistics challenges.
“The unveiling of Ocean Dragon is not just about celebrating a vessel, but about providing an indigenous solution to long-standing problems in Nigeria’s maritime and logistics sector,” Ogudu stated.
He highlighted Clarion Shipping’s evolution from a freight forwarding firm into a full-fledged indigenous shipping company with a footprint across Lagos, Onne, Calabar, and Onitsha River Port. The company is also a licensed terminal operator, shipping agent, and provider of haulage, baggage, and inland waterway services.
Ogudu noted that Clarion had pioneered operations in previously underserved regions, including becoming the first terminal to operate in Anambra and to establish a rural terminal network in Nigeria. Through partnerships with global carriers such as MSC and COSCO, the firm has moved over 200,000 TEUs across Africa, a foundation that paved the way for its latest milestone.
Unlike foreign shipping lines that often restrict deliveries to Nigeria’s major ports, Ogudu explained that Clarion Shipping’s service model offers shippers more flexibility.
He emphasized that Clarion’s operations are designed to reduce costs associated with road transport inefficiencies, particularly in the South-South and South-East, while also promoting export activities through new hubs in Calabar and Conair.
Ogudu further outlined incentives for customers, including waiver on container deposits, 21 days of free storage, competitive terminal charges, and efficient inland clearance within 24 hours.
While thanking stakeholders for their support, Ogudu called for sustained patronage to ensure the growth and sustainability of the indigenous venture.
“We cannot achieve this dream without your support. For the sustainability of this business and the growth of the sector, your patronage is key,” he appealed.
He concluded by dedicating the milestone to the resilience of Nigeria’s maritime sector and reaffirmed Clarion Shipping’s commitment to innovation and indigenous solutions.
The unveiling ceremony highlighted the vessel’s potential to reduce transit delays, support Nigerian exporters, and expand seamless shipping connections between China and Nigeria.
Stakeholders, including market leaders and industry partners, praised the milestone as a transformative step towards sustainable, efficient, and homegrown maritime logistics solutions that will strengthen Nigeria’s role in continental trade.