Trading Ships

See the ships employed in the trading voyages of the national carrier from 1959 to 1995.

Mv. Nnamdi Azikiwe, built by Swan, Hunter and Wigham Richardson Ltd, Newcastle-upon-Tyne 1963 / 5,063 gt / 141.76 metres. Bought 1962, sold 1981 to Middle East Maritime Ltd Piraeus (C. and G. Philippotis) and renamed Ronhil.

Mv. Ahmadu Bello, built by Swan, Hunter and Wigham Richardson Ltd, Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1963 / 6,127 gt / 141.76 metres. Bought 1963, sold 1981 to Middle East Maritime Ltd Piraeus (C. and G. Philippotis) and renamed Ronson.

Mv River Niger, built by Rheinstahl Nordseewerke Emden in 1986 / 7,827 gt / 136.53 metres. Bought 1968, sold 1983 to S. C. Vazeos (Greek owners) and renamed River.

Mv Oranyan built by Swan, Hunter and Wigham Richardson Ltd, Walker, Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1953 / 6,009 gt / 141.00 metres. Bought 1960, sold 1976 to Marili Compania Naviera S.A. (Greek owners).

Mv El Kanemi, built by John Crown and Sons Ltd, Sunderland, 1956 / 5,660 gt / 137.90 metres. Bought 1960, sold 1978 to Specova Compania Naviera S.A. Panama (S. Vazeos, Piraeus, managers).

Mv. King Jaja, built by William Doxford and Sons Ltd, Sunderland, 1955 / 5,869 gt / 137.39 metres. Bought 1959, sold 1975 to S. C. Vaseous, renamed Esperos.

Mv. Oduduwa, built by Bartram and Sons Ltd, Sunderland, 1954; 5,570gt; 138.49 metres. Bought 1959, sold 1975 to Castrenza Compania Naviera, Piraeus, renamed Anastasia V.

Mv. Dan Fodio, built by William Doxford and Sons Ltd, Sunderland, 1950; 6,189 gt; 141.54 metres. Bought 1959, sold 1974 to Exeter Navigation Co. of Cyprus (S. C. Vazeos, Piraeus, renamed Fos.

Mv. Herbert Macaulay, built by William Pickersgill and Sons Ltd, Sunderland, 1957; 6,041 gt; 140.09 metres. Bought 1964, sold 1976 to Dinamica Transmar Navegacion S.A. Panama, renamed Anel D’Azur.

Mv. River Benue, built by Rheinstahl Nordseewerke Emden, 1968; 7,827 gt; 136.53 metres. Bought 1968, sold 1983 to S. C. Vazeos, renamed Dynasty.

Mv. Oba Overami, built by Rotterdamsche Droogdok Mij, Schiedam, 1948; 5,581 gt; 137.85 metres. Bought 1965 and renamed Oba Overami, renamed Oba Ovonramwen in 1967. Sold to breakers at Cadiz Spain January 1970.

Mv. River Gongola, built by Schiffswerft August Pahl, Hamburg, 1964; 5,341 gt; 125.89 metres. Bought 1974, sold 1979 Candleford Shipping Co. Ltd., Cyprus, renamed Mikelden.

Mv. River Jimini, built by Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. Ltd., Ulsan, 1979; 10,985 gt; 147.28 metres. Bought 1979, sold 1989 to Annico Maritime Inc. S.A., Monrovia under Greek flag, renamed Enarxis.

Mv. River Maje, built by Brodogradiliste I Tvornica Dizel Motora Split, Split, 1980; 13,167 gt; 174.96 metres. Bought 1980, sold in 2001 to Indian breakers, broken up at Alang.

Mv Cross River, built by Astilleros de Cadiz, Cadiz, 1964; 6,044 gt; 127.67 metres. Bought 1973, sold 1977 to Smirna Shipping Co. S.A. Panama, renamed Azalea.

Mv River Ogun, built by Rheinstahl Nordseewerke Emden, 1968; 7,827 gt; 136.53 metres. Bought 1968, sold 1984 to Epping Marine Co. Ltd Nicosia, renamed Shogun.

Mv River Hadejia, built by StoczniaSzczecinski, Szczecin, 1974; 9, 389 gt; 145.88 metres. Bought 1974, sold 1986 to North Star Maritime Ltd. of Bahamas, renamed Green Lagoon.

Mv River Adada, built by Brodogradiliste I Tvornica Dizel Motora Split, Split, 1979; 13,165 gt; 174.96 metres. Bought 1979, sold 1996 to Power Shipping S.A. St. Vincent and the Grenadines, renamed River.

Mv River Oji, built by Brodogradiliste I Tvornica Dizel Motora Split, Split, 1979; 13,165 gt; 174.96 metres. Bought 1979, sold in 1996 to Falcon Marine Corporation, renamed Falconzord.

Mv River Majidun, built by Brodogradiliste I Tvornica Dizel Motora Split, Split, 1979; 13,161 gt; 174.96 metres. Bought 1979, scuttled at sea off Las Palmas following grounding in April 1994.

Mv River Aboine, built by Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. Ltd., Ulsan, 1979; 10,985 gt; 147.52 metres. Bought 1979, sold 1989 to Aerobell Nigeria Ltd with Brawal Shipping Line Apapa Nigeria as managers, renamed Ndoni River.

Mv River Gurara, built Brodogradiliste I Tvornica Dizel Motora Split, Split, 1980; 13,194 gt; 174.96 metres. Bought 1980, sank 26th February 1989 in stormy weather following engine failure off the coast of Portugal; 18 passengers and crew were lost.

Mv River Ethiope, built by Rheinstahl Nordseewerke Emden, 1969; 7,827 gt; 136.53 metres. Bought 1969, sold 1984 to Greenock Navigation Co. Ltd., Limassol, renamed Nic.

Mv River Ikpan, built Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. Ltd., Ulsan, 1980; 13,363 gt; 167.32 metres. Bought 1980, as the last new ship built for NNSL, River Ikpan operated until September 1995 when she was laid up at Sapele. She was sold to Indian breakers in April 2001 and broken up at Alang.

Remarks:

There were other ships used and operated by NNSL, some on various terms and durations of charter. The vessels noted in this partial list were the tonnage with appreciable length of record as fully owned tonnage.