The annual Maritime Cup tournament, organized by the ships and ports, is ready to go this year. The tournament kicked off on Tuesday, October 24th, and a minute of silence will be observed for the previous Chairman of the Nigerian Trawlers Owners Association (NITOA), Barr. Mrs. Margaret Onyema-Orakwusi, who passed away in April.
Onyema-Orakwusi was a devoted supporter of the competition, provided financial assistance, and frequently attended previous opening and closing events.
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the defending champion, and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, the organization that oversees port economics, will play each other in the opening match of the Maritime Cup 2023 at 4 p.m. at the Stable Sports Complex in Surulere, Lagos.
In four groups, the Maritime Cup 2023 has fifteen teams competing for prizes. Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), COSCO Shipping Nigeria, Comet Shipping Agencies, and Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) make up Group A.
The 2014 champion National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), the 2019 runner-up Josepdam Port Services, and the brand-new National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) will face off in Group B.
ENL Consortium, the 2019 group winners, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dynasty Shipping, and APM Terminals Apapa, the top terminal operator, make up group C.
Nigerian Navy, a 2009 champion; Nigeria Customs Service, a five-time champion; and Blueche Lomado and Truck Transit Park (TTP), two new participants, parade in Group D.
Nigerian Navy (2009), Micura Stevedoring Services (2010), Nigeria Customs Service (2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, and 2017), National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (2014), Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (2015), Nigerian Ports Authority (2018, 2022), and ENL Consortium Nigeria Limited (2019) are previous winners of the Maritime Cup since its inception. Due to COVID-19, the tournament was postponed to 2020 and 2021.
The amount of N3 million will be up for grabs as prize money for this year’s competition winners, according to a statement from Ships & Ports Weekend.
Mrs. Oluwatosin Rotimi, the coordinator for the Maritime Cup 2023, announced in a statement that the corporation had quadrupled the prize money for the trophy winner from N1 million to N2 million, while the runners-up and others would each receive N1 million.
Mr. Rotimi said, “The prize money for the winner of this year’s competition, which remains the rallying ground for maritime workers to unwind and interact with each other, has been raised from N1 million to N2 million. The first and second runners-up will go home with N400,000 and N300,000, respectively, while others, including the Most Valuable Player, Best Goalkeeper, and Fair Play Award winners, will also go home with various cash prizes.”