Headlines

MSC set to overtake Maersk as world’s largest container line

Analysts have been forecasting since the spring that MSC was on track to become the world’s largest container carrier surpassing MSC.

It apparently happened this week as MSC continued to take delivery of recently acquired secondhand tonnage as well as the completion of new builds that will be operated by the carrier.

MSC either moved ahead or tied with Maersk based on rated total capacity.

Privately held, MSC is notoriously quiet about its individual activities not reporting transactions and orders, leaving it to industry insiders, brokers, and analysts to link the company to industry developments.

Speculation tied MSC to orders for ultra-large container ships orders earlier this year in China, and recently the company is believed to have been behind multiple purchases of older ships.

At the end of last week, China’s Yangzijiang Shipbuilding Group held delivery ceremonies for two 12,200 TEU container ships, the MSC Alanya and MSC Rayshmi, which were being built as part of a new class of ships.

The first of the class was delivered in September 2021, the MSC Carole, and two additional ships are still under construction in China.

The new ships along with a possible handover of second-hand tonnage are believed to have pushed MSC ahead.

Eight months ago, MSC was reported to be trailing Maersk by 225,000 TEU.

Respected industry analyst, Alphaliner in its Top 100, still lists Maersk as first.

However, they put the lead by just 10,929 TEU in total capacity with both carriers ranked at 16.9 percent market share.

Maersk is reported to have a total fleet of 731 ships of which 323 with a capacity of 2.5 million TEU are owned and 408 with a capacity of 1.8 million TEU are operating on charter. Maersk only has 225,100 TEU on order.

Alphaliner sets MSC’s current fleet at a total of 633 ships. The line employs a larger charter fleet, with 382 ships which make up approximately two-thirds of its total capacity or a rated capacity of nearly 2.8 million TEU.

MSC owns 251 ships with a total rated capacity of just under 1.5 million TEU. MSC, however, has a large order book which is believed to be for nearly an additional one million in TEU capacity.

Maersk had previously commented that it was comfortable with its overall business strategy and not focused on just carrying capacity.

Last month, the company reported a record profit with analysts highlighting that Maersk remains on track for the largest profit ever reported by a Danish company.

Aviation

FAAN resumes toll collection at Airports, adopts hybrid payment method

Gloria Odion, Reporter

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria(FAAN) have resumed collection of toll at all its toll plazas located at the airports in the country, including Murtalar Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.

The toll suspension arose from the chaos which the new cashless payment method introduced by FAAN recently generated which resulted in long queues of motorists at these facilities.

This development has raised public outcry which necessitated the intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who directed the suspension of the cashless payment system.

However, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has directed the resumption of toll collection at all these plazas.

In a press statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Tunde Moshood, the Minister declared that a hybrid access gate payment should be adopted by FAAN at the toll gates located at the Airports in the country.

“Following the earlier suspension of the full cashless Access Gate payment system as directed by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu due to the traffic gridlock it created, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development met with officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and senior officials of the Ministry.

“After reviewing the initial implementation and the operational challenges observed, the following decisions were reached:

” The Ministry has resolved to engage concessionaires in order to introduce a fully automated or electronic system at all access gates at our airports in order to fully and eventually eliminate cash payments.

” In the meantime, a hybrid payment system that accommodates both cash and card payments will resume at all airport access gates with effect from Friday, March 13, 2026.

” Motorists who already possess FAAN Go Cashless Cards may continue to use them until further notice.

“Other electronic payment options, including POS terminals and other approved digital channels, will also remain available.

“Members of the public and road users are encouraged to obtain and use the FAAN Go Cashless Card as the Authority continues to enhance and fully optimise the cashless payment system.

“This directive restores the previous access gate payment arrangement whilst the Ministry continues to work on the fully automated or electronic system” the statement concluded.

Headlines

NPA shines as Outstanding Agency of the Year 2025 at Champions newspaper Awards ceremony

Funso OLOJO, Editor

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has won another award as the Outstanding Agency of the Year 2025 conferred on the agency by Champions Newspaper at its 2025 Awards ceremony held in Lagos.

Receiving the award on behalf of the Managing Director of the Authority, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, the General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemekara, described the award as recognition of Danthoso vigorous leadership in implementing smart initiatives that align with the NPA’s vision to become the Maritime Logistics Hub for Sustainable Port Services in Africa.

The NPA MD highlighted the invaluable support of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, which he said has been instrumental in achieving these remarkable successes.

According Dantsoho, some of the key remarkable performances of NPA include sustained port efficiencies, which contributed to Nigeria’s year-on-year trade surplus of ₦7.5 trillion and ₦6.7 trillion in Q2 and Q3 2025 (per NBS and NESG reports), driven mainly by exports via NPA platforms.

He also mentioned the successful execution of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s policy for crude and petroleum product sales in Naira, saving billions in FOREX, enhancing energy security, improving trade balance, and creating jobs.

Others include completion of Nigeria’s membership in the International Port Community System Association (IPCSA), paving the way for the National Single Window (NSW) project, technical guidance enabling a significant rise in transhipment cargo at Lekki Deep Seaport, serving landlocked neighbours and recovering cargo lost to competing ports.

Another achievement made under the leadership of Danthoso was his electorial victory as the President of the Port Management Association of West & Central Africa (PMAWCA), with Dr. Dantsoho also leading PAPC, boosting Nigeria’s diplomatic standing and securing re-admission to IMO Category C.

Champions Newspaper conferred the award in appreciation of NPA’s pivotal role as a leading trade facilitation platform driving national economic prosperity through Nigeria’s maritime endowments.

Headlines

Anti-Corruption Group Commends FG on National Single Window Initiative

Gloria Odion,Maritime Reporter

The Media Anti-Corruption Initiatives (MACI), a leading non-governmental organization(NGO), has applauded the Federal Government’s forthcoming launch of the National Single Window (NSW), a centralized platform designed to integrate all transactions and interactions with public agencies.

In a joint press release, Captain Adamu Mishela (Chairman) and Funso Olojo (Secretary General) emphasized the significance of the NSW as a groundbreaking reform aimed at streamlining trade procedures, enhancing transparency, and strengthening integrity across the public sector.

Originally introduced nearly two years ago by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the NSW represents a major fiscal reform intended to boost Nigeria’s competitiveness on the global stage.

Captain Mishela noted that MACI believes the initiative will minimize opportunities for corrupt practices, accelerate service delivery for citizens and businesses, and restore public confidence in government institutions

MACI reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding public resources, upholding the rule of law, and promoting transparency.

The organization also expressed readiness to collaborate with government agencies, private sector partners, civil society, and the wider public to ensure the NSW achieves its objectives, mitigates risks, and serves as a strong defense against corruption.

In support of the NSW project, MACI is set to hold a seminar with the theme “Tamper-Proof National Single Window” to ensure that the initiative succeeds where other reforms before it faltered.

This initiative marks a significant step toward building a more open, accountable, and citizen-focused public sector in Nigeria.