SmartOffshore wants to build Nigeria’s first online marketplace for maritime vessel charter

SmartOffshore is an international startup that wants to revolutionize Nigeria’s maritime vessel charter.

SmartOffshore’s first step is putting maritime vessels on a website where they’re easily searchable with different filters. Instead of calling multiple contacts, you can easily find the exact vessel for your job with a few clicks on the website.

“Nigeria’s maritime industry still has a lot of potential of leveraging the internet for improving efficiencies in business. SmartOffshore’s first step is making an ‘AirBnB’ for vessel charter”, said Emmanuel Ojinnaga, the cofounder and maritime industry veteran.

Mr Ojinnaga says they’re still in the beginning but have a big vision for the company.
“We’d like to build a central platform for charterers and vessel owners where they can handle business with clicks and as little paper and phones as possible,” he commented.

Mr Ojinnaga has partnered with a European software company, Niteo, which has been developing websites and software solutions since 2007.

“We want SmartOffshore to help the maritime businesses to operate faster, simpler, and in a more organized fashion, everything that will benefit the bottom line of all companies involved,” ended Mr Murko, the SmartOffshore Project Lead at Niteo.

SmartOffshore is now looking for vessel companies that want to be listed as one of the first on the new marketplace. Mr. Ojinnaga says they expect to bring more qualified customers from different marketing channels that will require less convincing when they call for the charter.

Check out the first maritime companies in Nigeria listed on the website.