Clarion Shipping Woos Nigerian Shippers, Freight Agents, Says No Container Deposit , Plus 21 Days Free Period

By Roland Ekama 

 

In line with cargo clearance and trade facilitation, Clarion Shipping West Africa Limited has hit the ground running by engaging freight forwarders , customs brokers and shippers on the benefits that would reduce the cost of doing business in Nigerian seaports .

Bernardine Eloka, Vice President,Clarion Shipping West Africa Limited who spoke on Wednesday in Lagos, assured the trading public that the advantages of patronizing Nigerian owned ship is enourmous which in turn will reduce the cost of doing business in Nigeria.

She disclosed that the company has lined up series of incentives for Nigerian shippers, among which are $500 reduction in freight charge of every 40 foot container and $300 in every 20 foot container the company carries for a customer.

Eloka acknowledged key partners, including the company’s Chinese counterparts led by Mr. Peter Leng Lijiang, and local collaborators such as Alhaji Mohammed 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 MV Ocean Dragon will drastically cut transit delays at regional ports.

President General , Association of Igbo Maritime Practitioners in Nigeria (ASIMPIN) HRM Eze Damian Obianigwe prayed for the growth and development of the new shipping line , adding that the more vessels are needed to boost indigenous shipping development in the nation’s seaports.

The Traditional Ruler, emphasized the strength of women for the actualisation of indigenous shipping development in Nigeria lauding the initiative aimed to boost maritime activities.

Similarly, Founder of National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Dr. Boniface Aniebonam reiterated that the ship acquisition fund anchored by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) failed to see the light of the day but maintained that a female in Nigeria has taken a bold step to float Nigerian liner.

He noted that despite the capital intensive nature of shipping business, Clarion Shipping has proved the government wrong, noting that the freight forwarding community must rally support to encourage the business from Mafias who are bent to frustrating local content.

The NAGAFF boss maintained that Clarion Shipping must succeed hence the need for shippers, freight agents , customs brokers etc to look inward and promote indigenous shipping.

He tasked freight agents to campaign aggressively to promote local capacity, stressing the need for the bright agents to convince their principals and clients on the need to patronize Clarion Shipping.

Aniebonam noted that mafias will definitely attempt to frustrate Clarion Shipping businesses, but urged management of the liner to stand firm in furtherance to stay afloat.

Aniebonam who is the Chairman, New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) maintained that Clarion Shipping has taken a stand to ensuring that the nation’s maritime received a boost.

National Coordinator, Save Nigerian Freight Forwarders Importers Exporters Coalition (SNFFIEC) Chief Osita Chukwu Patrick stated that freight forwarders will benefit tremendously from Clarion Shipping Company ,adding that Mrs Benardine deserves national honours for floating a container liner.

Osita called on shippers and freight agents to rally support for the indigenous shipping company.

Chairman, Tin Can Is Chapter , APFFLON Jibril Usman expressed satisfaction over the new shipping line , calling on management of the indigenous company to stick with the promises on free grace period and container deposit

Chief Uba Lawrence, a chieftain of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), pointed out that Clarion Shipping has come to wipe away tears from the eyes of practitioners and shippers respectively, because according to him, foreign liners are taking advantages of Nigerians due to the dearth of indigenous shipping.