… Maersk, MSC, PIL, ONE hail US Coast Guard’s move, see room for direct services
Major international shipping lines operating in Nigeria have welcomed the removal of the 12-year Condition of Entry imposed by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) on vessels that had called at Nigerian ports, describing the development as a boost to trade, shipping opportunities and Nigeria’s standing in the global maritime industry.
The shipping companies, including Maersk, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), Pacific International Lines (PIL) and Ocean Network Express (ONE), said the lifting of the restriction reflects growing confidence in security at Nigerian ports and could encourage more direct shipping connections between Nigeria and the United States.
The USCG’s decision effectively ends a 12-year regime of enhanced security requirements for vessels that had visited Nigerian ports within their last five port calls before proceeding to the United States.
For Maersk, the development could strengthen Nigeria’s position in global shipping while creating greater confidence for future expansion.
Terminal Planning Lead, West Africa, Srijesh Subramanian, described the development as a welcome move that would benefit both importers and exporters.
“This is a welcome move which will enable better trade both for the importers as well as the exporters because we have quite a lot of exports going on, lots of Nigerians in the US”, he said.
Subramanian said the development could also give shipping companies greater confidence to expand their operations in Nigeria.
“Shipping companies will be a little more bold in their expansion plans for the future. With the US removal of the Condition of Entry (COE), it is saying that Nigeria looks more like a safer environment than previously perceived”, he added.
He urged the relevant authorities to sustain the security improvements that had contributed to the lifting of the restriction.
ONE: Restriction removal could ease direct trade
Nigeria Director of Ocean Network Express, Stefan Pedersen, also congratulated Nigeria on the development, although ONE currently does not operate direct services between Nigeria and the United States.
“Congratulations to Nigeria on the lifting of the Condition of Entry. It shows the work that NIMASA has been doing all these years has actually paid off”, Pedersen said.
According to him, the removal of the restriction should make direct trade between Nigeria and the United States easier.
“When restrictions go away, it usually improves trade, so for our colleagues in the industry that have direct sailings to the US, it’s going to make it easier”, he said.
PIL highlights image boost
Managing Director of Pacific International Lines, Ugo Opiah, said the development would positively influence Nigeria’s image as a maritime nation.
“I think it’s a very good one in terms of the image. Of course, the US is categorised as one of, let’s say, the big brother of the world, and most times if you do qualify for things that concern the US, then you are seen as a high-integrity player”, he said.
Opiah said the lifting of the restriction was evidence that Nigeria had made progress in strengthening security within its maritime sector.
“For Nigeria, with this being lifted after the number of years that it had been on us, it does give a good sign that we have upped our game in terms of anything to do with security in the maritime industry”, he added.
MSC eyes more direct connections
For MSC, which operates services to major ports across the world, the restriction had resulted in additional trans-shipment arrangements for cargo moving between Nigeria and the United States.
Vessel and Terminal Coordinator for MSC, Adesina Omoparuwa, said the removal of the restriction could open opportunities for more direct services.
“Because of this restriction, we have to do some trans-shipments. We do not have direct services to the US like we have now in China”, he said.
Omoparuwa explained that the company had previously relied on trans-shipment ports for some movements that could not be handled directly because of the restriction.
“With this development, it will give us more direct service from the US and opportunities for people that are doing business from the US to come directly down to Nigeria”, he said.
The removal of the Condition of Entry on vessels that have visited Nigerian ports within their last five port calls and are subsequently destined for the United States marks a significant development in Nigeria’s maritime security efforts.
It also represents a potential boost for port competitiveness, shipping connectivity and trade between Nigeria and the United States, while placing greater emphasis on sustaining the security gains that contributed to the USCG’s decision.