LEKKI DEEP SEAPORT; WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Lekki deep seaport is a multipurpose, deep-seaport at the core of the Lagos Free Trade Zone. It is to one of the most technologically advanced deep-seaports in West Africa. The port is offering wide support to the expanding commercial operation across Nigeria and other West African regions. Construction of Lekki Deep Sea Port is currently underway.

Lekki port is Nigeria’s biggest port and one of the biggest in all of West Africa. Lekki Port will be extended to accommodate about 6 million TEUs of containers. It will also take considerable amount of liquid and dry bulk goods that are not containerized. The port will have access to vessels that can carry more than 14,500 cargo.

Therefore, lekki port building is in stages. Its first phase, set to open in 2023, would primarily consist of three container berths. The berths are capable of handling more than 1.8 million TEUs. Thus, one berth for dry bulk products and two berths for liquid cargo.

To date (June 2022), $1.5 billion investment in the port by private investors and a partnership of banks is yielding results. The seaport will encompass up to 90 hectares of land. It is anticipated to be finished in 2023, with operations beginning in the first part of that year.

This post discusses the unique features of Lekki deep seaport.

DESIGN

The port’s layout, comprising the approach channel, turning circle, and harbor basins, was determined from optimizations of port operations, building costs, and potential future extensions.

For the main breakwater, two ideas were used. One of the breaker section is a rubble mound with a geo-bag core for the sections close to the shore. The other is a composite breakwater for the more open sections.

A barrier was put in place of the secondary breakwater. The barrier is of a sand core that is internally with reinforcement by a geo-bag layer. In addition, there is a revetment on the harbor side, and an artificial beach on the seaward side.

The initial capacity of the Liquid Berth for Lekki Deep Sea Port is to service boats with a deadweight tonnage (DWT) of up to 45,000. However, the design of the berth allows for additions that might bring the total DWT capacity up to 160,000.

It would be possible to handle liquids such as finished goods (petrol, diesel), as well as store them in a tank farm. Tank farms are located in the Lagos Free Trade Zone, in close proximity to the port site. The berth will be outfitted with loading arms, and it will be connected to the tank farm and the boats by pipes that run down the breakwater. This will allow for the transportation of goods.

LEKKI DEEP SEAPORT FACILITIES AND MARINE INFRASTRUCTURE

Lekki Port will have the most cutting-edge infrastructure and terminal ling services to entice and keep high-volume shipping lines. This is because it will be accommodating the expanding worldwide trend of using ever-larger vessels. The port will have container, dry bulk, and liquid terminals, as well as a well-designed marine infrastructure, making it a true multipurpose port.

A 9-kilometre-long and 19-meter-deep navigation canal will lead ships to the 600-meter-wide turning basin at Lekki Port. A primary breakwater of 1.500 m and a secondary breakwater of 300m protect the port from ocean waves and currents. Thus, this will be creating a controlled environment for vessel handling. Especially, alongside the 1.500 m quay at a water depth of 16.5m, and three liquid jetties with 19m water depth. Additionally, berthing facilities for maritime services (tugboats, pilot boats) are provided for the safe and secure handling of shipping.

LEKKI DEEP SEAPORT CONTAINER TERMINAL

Container Terminal will have a quay that is 1,200 meters long. Additionally, there are three berths for containers, and a storage yard with more than 15,000 ground slots. The container storage and handling space will often have containers stacked in a certain fashion. Lekki terminal is built to handle 2.7 million TEUs per year.

The dry bulk terminal will be close to the turning circle and on the western side of the container berths. Available quay, which is approximately 300 meters, is adequate for accommodating one berth for a vessel of Panamax size (75,000 DWT).

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Goods like grains, raw sugar, and fertilizers, which are both dry and wet, will be handled as cargo. The transfer of bulk freight to storage places such as silos and warehouses will be handled by covered conveyor systems along a 25-meter track. Therefore, the facility is to handle about 4 million metric tons (MT) of dry bulk each year.

QUICK FACTS ON LEKKI DEEP SEAPORT

• The Lekki Deep Seaport is a $2 billion project in the Lagos Free Trade Zone. It’s construction was begun by a Singaporean business called Tolaram Group. As the only deep seaport, Lekki will be a big game-changer in Nigeria’s marine industry.
• Today, the development of Lekki port is by a corporation called China Harbor Engineering.
• Also, the deep seaport would provide more than 170,000 direct and indirect jobs for Lagos people and help decongest Apapa and Tin Can.
• The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, stated in March 2021 that the Lekki Deep Seaport is anticipated to begin operations during the first quarter of 2023. This was because the construction company, China Harbor Engineering firm, had made significant progress with the project.
• Again, lekki seaport is partially operational, with 94.43% completion as at 28 June 2022.
• Most importantly, Lekki deep seaport has received first vessel landing on 1 July 2022.
• Lastly, electricity comes from a 30 MW dedicated power plant and a 10 MW emergency power plant.

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