In a landmark moment for West Africa’s maritime industry, Kota Oasis — the first LNG-powered container vessel to visit the region — berthed at APM Terminals Apapa in Lagos on Wednesday.
The 260-metre-long, 46-metre-wide vessel, sailing under the Singaporean flag and owned by Pacific International Lines (PIL), is the fifth LNG-powered ship in PIL’s fleet and the first in its cutting-edge “O” class — a series of dual-fuel vessels that can run on both liquefied natural gas and future bio-methane alternatives to further reduce emissions.
Powered by Win-GD’s advanced X-DF engines with Intelligent Control by Exhaust Recycling (iCER), Kota Oasis boasts significant environmental benefits. The engines are designed to reduce methane slip and comply with IMO Tier III standards, emitting low nitrogen oxides and virtually no sulfur oxides or particulate matter.
Terminal Manager of APM Terminals Apapa, Steen Knudsen, welcomed the vessel’s arrival, calling it “a major step in aligning with our mission to reduce carbon emissions in and around the port.”
“Efficient port operations mean quicker turnaround times,” Knudsen said. “That allows vessels to travel slower to their next port, saving fuel and cutting emissions. We’re committed to continuous investment to support bigger vessels and improve trade efficiency.”
Olawunmi Akinyemi, Head of Operations at PIL Nigeria, said the event underscores the company’s long-term commitment to the Nigerian and West African markets.
“This is a milestone that reinforces our pledge to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050,” Akinyemi stated. “We are focused on cost-efficiency and environmental sustainability.”
Dhruv Kohli, Operations Lead for PIL West Africa, added that Kota Oasis reflects PIL’s dedication to “deploying the latest, most advanced shipping technologies” in the region. He also pointed to future plans to incorporate ammonia as an alternative fuel source.
Port officials and regulators praised the move. Ibrahim Abdul, General Manager of Health and Safety Executive, said the development supports international carbon reduction goals, noting Nigeria’s own port sustainability efforts — such as CNG generator conversion and solar energy installations.
Port Manager of the Lagos Port Complex, Adebowale Lawal, called the arrival “a remarkable achievement,” adding, “It’s fitting that this groundbreaking voyage began at Apapa — Nigeria’s premier port where everything good is happening.”
The berthing of Kota Oasis marks a major leap forward in sustainable maritime logistics and positions Nigeria at the forefront of clean energy shipping in Africa.
