Together with terminal operator Julius Berger Services Nigeria, Universal Africa Lines (UAL) has launched a new multipurpose shipping service from Europe to Warri in Nigeria to avoid congestion in Nigerian port of Lagos.

With immediate effect, UAL will start a monthly service from Europe to the port of Warri in Nigeria.
In Warri, UAL will be calling at the multipurpose terminal of Julius Berger Nigeria. The monthly service accepts breakbulk, project cargo and containers and will offer a transit time of 30 days, without transshipments.

“The port of Warri is centrally positioned in Nigeria. Today, Lagos traffic is completely blocked and it takes many days extra to get cargoes out to their final destinations in the rest of Nigeria and even beyond,” says Harald Maas, Director of UAL Netherlands. According to UAL, the port of Warri offers excellent and shorter inland connections and does not have any of the logistical challenges which Lagos currently experiences.

“Together with a highly efficient custom clearing process, this offers a very good opportunity for improved transit times for delivery to the final destinations within Nigeria. We, therefore, feel the creation of this new corridor into Nigeria will fill the demand of clients who are in need of faster door delivery,” Maas concludes. 

UAL has been serving the West African market for over 45 years with regular direct liner services between the US Gulf, NW Europe to the West African ports. The company operates 7 geared multipurpose vessels ranging from 4.500 till 12.800 dwt, with a lifting capacity up to 360 tonnes. 

Julius Berger Services Nigeria Limited (JBSN) has served as a multipurpose terminal operator at the Warri Port – Terminal C since 2007. It offers services for various types of cargo including stevedoring, storage and custom clearing as well as shipping services for import and export of goods to and from Nigeria.