The Nigeria-based logistic provider Clarion Shipping West Africa Ltd. (Clarion) has announced the launch of the first fully Nigerian-owned container vessel, MV Ocean Dragon, unveiled just two weeks ago.

The company states in a social media release that the vessel will serve major ports across Nigeria and also in West Africa.

The container vessel is a “milestone” in Nigeria’s maritime sector, the company mentions, signalling a new era for the regional trade -as it enhances the local capacity- and strengthening Nigeria’s leadership within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) with expanded participation in the seaborne trade.

The Ocean Dragon, with a capacity of 349 TEUs, is set to provide direct shipping services between Nigerian ports and key destinations across West Africa, including Benin, Togo, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Ivory Coast, significantly enhancing intra-African trade connectivity.

In accordance with the data in the company’s website, Clarion is a family-owned company founded in 2006, operating seven terminals across Nigeria and providing shipping and logistic services across West Africa and Asia.