Gold Star Line has become the latest foreign shipping company to sail a vessel powered by alternative energy into Nigeria’s seaports with the berthing of its first Liquefied Natural Gas-powered containership, the MV Sapphire, at APM Terminals in Apapa, Lagos.

The vessel, built in 2024 and sailing under the flag of Singapore, boasts a capacity of 7,800 twenty-foot equivalent units.

Todd Rives, the managing director of Lagos and Niger Shipping Agency Limited, which represents Gold Star Line in Nigeria, stated that the MV Sapphire’s arrival is part of a broader strategy to reduce voyage costs, enhance operational efficiency, and reinforce environmental sustainability.

Gold Star Line, incorporated in 1958, is noted as one of the oldest shipping agencies operating in Nigeria. Rives indicated that the vessel’s call marks the beginning of a new era in Nigerian maritime trade, with expectations that sister ships would also call at the port soon.

Kayode Daniel, the commercial manager of APM Terminals Apapa, acknowledged that shipping lines globally are collaborating to reduce emissions in alignment with international sustainability targets. He appreciated LANSAL for deploying LNG-powered vessels in support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Adebowale Lawal, the Port Manager of the Lagos Port Complex Apapa, emphasized that LNG vessels are critical for addressing climate change challenges while simultaneously reducing costs and driving economies of scale. He assured stakeholders of the Nigerian Ports Authority’s full commitment to this development.

The MV Sapphire’s arrival follows closely on the heels of the Kota Oasis, the first LNG-powered vessel welcomed by Apapa just months prior, a 260-meter containership with a gross tonnage of 77,850.