The morning mist over the River Niger cleared on Monday, August 17, 2026, as the grey hull of the SSV Kali 3 cut through the humid air at the Asemoku Jetty. The 40-metre shallow-draft supply vessel represents a landmark achievement for indigenous engineering; designed, funded, and built entirely in Nigeria without imported steel plates or foreign yard stamps.
​Constructed over 14 months by Nigerian energy firm Century Energy Group in partnership with local shipbuilders, the $12 million vessel is specifically engineered to navigate the treacherous, silt-heavy channels of the Niger Delta.
Equipped with twin 1,800-horsepower engines, advanced dynamic positioning, and a 200-tonne deck cargo capacity, the SSV Kali 3 will service offshore rigs and shallow-water platforms across the Gulf of Guinea.
​Speaking to trade representatives, industry executives, and maritime journalists gathered at the jetty’s primary terminal, key stakeholders highlighted the project’s economic impact:
Tunde Ojo, Chief Operating Officer of Century Energy Group: “The launch of SSV Kali 3 proves that Nigerian ingenuity is no longer just maintaining vessels, we are building them from the keel up. Every plate of steel was fabricated locally, and every weld was completed by Nigerian hands.”
Engr. Clara Amadi, Representative of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) stated “This vessel is living proof of what the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act aimed to achieve. We have moved from low-level servicing to complex marine architecture, keeping capital and technical expertise within our borders.”
Captain Efosa Idahosa, Vessel Master of the SSV Kali 3 said “Designing for these specific waters makes all the difference. Her 1.8-metre draft allows us to access shallow riverine installations that traditional foreign-built supply vessels simply cannot reach without running aground.”
​The vessel is scheduled to undergo final sea trials off the coast of Escravos before officially entering active service on September 1, 2026.
