Ports & Cargo Handling Services Limited, a subsidiary of SIFAX Group, has received IPSARION, the largest general cargo vessel ever handled at its terminal at Tin Can Island Port, Lagos.
The Malta-flagged bulk carrier, which spans nearly 200 metres in length and has a gross tonnage of 36,560, arrived with a mix of industrial cargo from Europe, including construction equipment, steel rods, vehicles, chemicals, and power generation machinery.
Built by Tsuneishi Heavy Industries in the Philippines, the vessel is managed by Helikon Shipping Enterprises and operated by YAKE BULK LIMITED.
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John Jenkins, managing director of Ports & Cargo, said the berthing of IPSARION reflects the terminal’s strategy to attract more diverse cargo types beyond containers.
“For a long period of time, our terminal has been servicing primarily container vessels,” Jenkins said. “But a strategic business decision recently… has tilted us towards welcoming general cargo vessels.”
He added that the terminal has the equipment, manpower, and experience to handle vessels of this scale, describing the development as a demonstration of SIFAX Group’s investment in port infrastructure and capacity.
Unloading operations were ongoing as of press time, marking what the company called a forward step in deepening Nigeria’s maritime trade potential.
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