The MV Great Cotonou, the first container-roll-on/roll-off (Con-Ro) vessel offering a direct shipping service from Shanghai to Lagos, berthed at the PTML Terminal on Tuesday.
Operated by global shipping giant Grimaldi Group, the vessel reduces transit time to just 27 days, eliminating the need for transshipment at intermediary ports. This new route allows Nigerian traders to receive containerized cargo, vehicles—including cars, vans, and trucks—as well as project cargo on a single vessel.
The Great Cotonou, a G5-class ship, measures 250 meters in length, with a beam of 38 meters and a deadweight of 45,864 tonnes. It can transport 4,700 linear meters of rolling freight, 2,500 Car Equivalent Units (CEU), and 2,000 Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEU).
“This is the largest container-RoRo ship coming to Africa,” said Ascanio Russo, Managing Director of PTML, highlighting the significance of the new service. Experts believe the direct route will simplify logistics and lower costs for importers by reducing shipping times and eliminating multiple transshipment stops.
Andrea Grimaldi, representing the Grimaldi family, emphasized the company’s commitment to strengthening trade links between Shanghai and West Africa. “We are starting with Shanghai, but as demand grows, we plan to expand to other Chinese ports and beyond,” he stated.