Why we honoured Comet Shipping’s former GMD, PL Carrodano – PortNews

Mr Pierre Luigi Carrodano, the immediate past Group Managing Director of Comet Shipping Group was confered with the prestigious award of Nigeria Maritime Legend by PortNews at its 30th Anniversary ceremony in Lagos on Thursday 6th November 2025.

The anniversary which attracted the cream of the maritime industry and dignitaries from all walks of life was highlighted with a seminal lecture and presentation of awards to a select number of individuals and corporate organizations who have distinguished themselves in various fields in the maritime industry. Among them were the Nigerian Ports Authority, Flour Mills of Nigeria, Greenview Development Company, Captain Emmanuel lhenacho, Dr Taiwo Afolabi, Prince Olayiwola Shittu, Chief Dennis Okafor, Olori Vicky Haastrup and Mr Pierre Luigi Carrodano, among others.

Mr Carrodano, an Italian who preferred to describe himself as ltalo-Nigerian, laid the foundation of the TY Danjuma owned company, Comet Shipping Agencies, and helped grow it over forty five years into the Comet Shipping Group, the behemoth  renown for variegated interests in shipping, haulage, terminal operations, customs clearing and forwarding, fishery, automobile dealership, port equipment supplies, among others.

Leading a team of brilliant and dedicated managers, Carrodano succeeded in opening up the Lagos/South America shipping routes with Nigeria America Line in the 80s which not only established viable commercial ventures but culminated in an enduring  sociopolitical rapport between Nigeria and Brazil and other South America countries.

Under Carrodano’s stewardship, Comet Shipping Group acquired NPA Car Park C in the federal government port concession with Five Star Logistics Limited as the special purpose vehicle. Today, Five Star Terminal is a huge success and a leading RoRo and multi freight handler.

Carrodano, an economics and financial studies graduate, had played significant roles in bringing major shipping lines such as China Shipping and MSC to Nigeria. Nigerian shipping industry will remain indebted to Carrodano for adding values to the lives of a generation of Nigerians.  A considerable number of customs agents and ship agents who are wealth generators and employers of labour, were trained at Comet Shipping Agencies under Mr Carrodano.”The man was a committed maritime man who  believed a lot in Nigeria. We learned and gained a lot working with him. We  will always pray for him”, noted Obe, a licensed customs agent who had worked and learned under Carrodano at Comet Shipping.

Pierre Luigi Carrodano retired from  Comet Shipping Group in 2023 after forty five years of dedicated and uninterrupted service.