OT Africa Line Service
Brochure
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For comprehensive details highlighting our service from Gabon please
see our latest service
brochure.
Port
Gentil
Port Information
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Port Gentil port infrastructure
Port Gentil is situated 16km southeast of the Cape Lopez
tanker terminal on the Ogoue River.
It is a general and bulk cargo port
but also has its own limited oil facilities. It is the only port
on the Gabon coast with a bunkering
service. Fresh water and provisions are available.
Approx. 220 vessels totalling over 3,000,000 dwt visit
the port annually
Draft at Quay
General cargo/Bulk Berths: 10,5 m
Container Berths: Containers can be handled at the general
cargo quay
Tanker Berth: 13,4 m
Lighter Quay: 7,6m
Berths
5 cargo berths up to 180 meters long
Rail Connections
Nearest railway Port Gentil
Air Connections
Nearest airport Port Gentil 3 Km
Warehousing/Storage
Open Storage, as well as 3,500 square meters of closed storage
is available
Click here to
view our local agent,
SAGA's access and infrastructural review on Port Gentil.
Libreville
Port Information
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Gabon Announces Log Export Ban - 07/12/09
Gabon is to ban the export of round logs.
The initial news is that the ban would take effect from January 2010.
This announcement was one of several by the government team led by the newly-elected
President Ali Ben Bongo, who became Gabon's president last month.
It seems that, so far, no formal gazetting or legislation has followed.
The proposed ban is in order to create employment by ensuring that further
processing is carried out within Gabon.
Government planned to increase the domestic wood processing rate to 75% by
2012.
At the moment there are no details of any phasing out of log exports and the
industry is uncertain what to do about the existing log stocks at the port
and in transit. It is also uncertain of what it would do in respect of contracts
already signed and for shipping and time charter arrangements.
Although Gabon’s log export volumes are much lower than they were some
years ago, there are still large volumes sold to China, India and lately to
Vietnam, as well as some steady volumes for North Africa.
If the ban was to come into effect in January, these consumer countries would
have just one month in which to find alternative log supplies to keep their
manufacturing plants operating. Given that there are so few tropical log exporting
countries this will not be easy to achieve and log prices will likely rise.
It is reported that some exporters in Gabon have raised their asking prices
for okoume sawn lumber, though it is not known if any sales have been made
at higher prices.
Gabonese Shippers Council - BIC Agency Control
Adjusted - 16/10/09
With immediate effect, the Gabonese Shippers Council has extended the geographical
control of its agents to maximise the delivery of the Cargo Tracking Note
(BIC) to shippers.
STH Agency Control
The Gabonese Shipper Council (CGC) circular n°29820 CGC/DG of 09/09/09
extends the control of the Syndicat des Transitaires et des Commissionnaires
en Douanes (STH) to cover the ports of Dunkirk, Marseilles, Rouen in addition
to Le Havre.
Contacts:
The Syndicat des Transitaires du Port du Havre
132 bd de Strasbourg
BP 7036 - 76060 LE HAVRE Cedex
France
Ph: +33 2 35 21 04 44
Fax: +33 2 35 42 38 98
E-mail : sth@hps.tm.fr
BIMV Agency Control
The Gabonese Shipper Council (CGC) circular n°29813 CGC/DG of 09/09/09
terminates FRABEMAR SARL’s agency contract.
The Bureau International Maritime (BIMV) will now control all ports formerly
covered by FRABEMAR.
Coverage: Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece, Albania, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia,
Slovenia, Hungry, Turkey, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine,
Belarus, Bulgaria
Contacts:
The Bureau International Maritime (BIMV)
Noorderlaan 139
2030 Antwerp
Belgium
Ph: +32 70 22 103
Fax: +32 70 234 002
E-mail : hafedh.cherif@bimv.be
For a definitive listing of all contacts
please click here.
UPDATE 3: OT Africa Line News - Gabon -
Election Update - 09/09/09
Calm has returned to Gabon after days of protests and rioting.Gabon's opposition
appealed for a recount of the poll and also urged the Gabonese to prepare for
what they called "progressive action".
However the constitutional court has rubber-stamped Bongo’s victory and
few expect a legal challenge to get anywhere now.
France and others have said election procedures were broadly acceptable and there
seems to be little appetite internationally to call for a re-run.
Initially caught off guard by the Port Gentil unrest, Gabonese authorities have
since boosted security and France has deployed its locally based military.
Bongo’s swearing-in is expected Sept. 20 - further outbreaks of violence
cannot be ruled out.
UPDATE 2: OT Africa Line News - Gabon -
Unrest Continues - 07/09/09
Libreville is quiet but violence continues in Port Gentil. Yesterday the
Gabonese interior minister warned that if post- election violence does not
subside he will declare a "state of siege" in the city of
Port Gentil. [Port-Gentil, the country's second-largest city and an opposition
stronghold.] Jean-Francois Ndongou said he would seek to invoke "special
powers" to ban movement if protests did not cease. Security forces are
patrolling the streets.
Hundreds of residents have reportedly fled the city after 3 days of continuous
clashes. A dusk-to-dawn curfew has been imposed.
Total SA have evacuated staff to Libreville.
Meanwhile the opposition coalition is scheduled to hold a news conference Monday
formally rejecting last month's election result. The opposition leader is currently
in hiding.
View France 24: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8viIqD7WMk
Update - Gabon's Bongo declared winner of
presidential poll - 04/09/09
Riots continued overnight.Security forces remain on the streets in Libreville.Gangs
looted stores / petrol stations in Port Gentil this morning. Offices of Total
SA have been attacked.
France advised its estimated 10,000 nationals living in Gabon to stay indoors.
The Constitutional Court has yet to confirm the election results. For more information
view Al Jeezera: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ss0NRvq8Tsw
Gabon's Bongo declared winner of presidential
poll - 03/09/09
Ali Ben Bongo, son of Gabon's long-time ruler Omar Bongo, won the election
with 41.73% of the vote. His father Omar Bongo died of a heart attack in
June ending nearly 42 years of tight rule.
The interior minister announced the result 03/09/09.
800,000 voters had registered to take part in Sunday's election.
Security forces earlier used tear gas to disperse hundreds of opposition supporters
who had led an overnight sit-in on a square near the election commission in
the capital Libreville.
Streets of Libreville are currently empty apart from a heavy security presence.
AFP news agency reports that disturbances have continued, with activists breaking
into a prison and freeing hundreds of inmates and setting fire to France's
consular building in Port-Gentil.
Gabon to Launch Largest AfDB Road Project
- 03/08/09
The first Phase of a major road project in Gabon, the largest ever financed
by the African Development Bank [AfDB www.afdb.org] Group in the transport
sector, has been launched. This strategic road project will cover 24% of
the Gabonese territory, at a total cost of 186 billion CFAF, of which 90%
[165 billion CFAF] will be mobilized by the AfDB. Most of the loan resources
will be deployed in the reconstruction and tarring the Ndende-Lebamba, the
Leyou-Lastoursville and the Fougamou-Mouila trunk roads covering over 250km.
Located on a NEPAD [New Partnership for Africa's
Development] corridor linking Yaounde, Libreville and Brazzaville, the road
is part of the Tripoli-Windhoek
trans-African highway, and therefore constitutes a backbone of the sub-region's
economic integration. The project will also enhance to Gabon's internal integration
by linking up all the provincial headquarters by tarred and durable roads,
thereby strengthening national unity. By opening up and providing reliable
access to all the provinces, the road project will enhance economic growth
and improve living conditions of rural dwellers. It will facilitate the supply
of agricultural inputs and manufactured goods. It will also promote the development
of tourism, industry, trade in food crops and livestock. It will significantly
improve access to basic social and health services as well as education.
The project's key outputs will include: •
A 25% increase in of length of paved roads in Gabon [the current length of
paved roads in Gabon is 1060 km];
•
A 30% rise in trade between the Economic Community of Central African States
[ECCAS] countries by 2015;
•
A 30% increase in access to social, educational and health facilities to
the people by 2012. [ADB 03/08/09]
Update - Gabon President Dies - 11/06/09
The speaker of the senate in Gabon has been sworn
in as the country's interim head of state, following the recent death of President
Omar Bongo. Under the constitution, Rose Francine Rogombe, an ally of Mr Bongo,
must organise elections within 45 days.
Update - Gabon President Dies - 10/06/09
Gabon’s President Omar Bongo Ondimba has now
officially been declared dead. Mourning is to last 30-days.
His death leaves a power vacuum.
Analysts say factions within the ruling Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG) will
be jostling to work out who succeeds him.
Bongo’s son, Defence Minister Ali Ben Bongo is seen as a leading candidate.
Senate President Rose Francine Rogombe, a Bongo ally in the ruling Gabonese
Democratic Party (PDG), is expected to take over as interim leader.
Elections should be organised within 45 days.
Gabon's security forces are protecting key administrative buildings in Libreville
and patrolling the streets. Large gatherings have been banned.
Situation is presently calm. However when elections are organised there may
be tension.
Although there have been some concerns about stability, analysts say that the
ruling party is likely to tightly manage the transition at least initially
and that Bongo's successes in easing ethnic tensions will reduce the risk of
turmoil.
However Ben Bongo could face opposition from his brother-in-law, Foreign Minister
Paul Toungui, while African Union Chairman Jean Ping, a long-time Bongo ally,
and Vice-President Didjob Divungi Di Ndinge have also been cited as possible
successors.
Mixed Reports - Gabon President Dies - 08/06/09
Mixed reports have been issued over the death of Gabon President Omar Bongo
Ondimba.
Elmundo [Spanish], AFP [French] and BBC [English] news agencies have all
reported that the President died yesterday however a Gabon government spokesman
denied
the media report.
Bongo has ruled the former French colony since 1967.
He was in a clinic in Barcelona, Spain for a medical check-up reportedly
for advanced cancer.
Bongo’s illness has fuelled debates over who would take over and speculation
there might be turmoil, as in Togo when long-serving President Gnassingbe
Eyadema died in 2005.
Libreville is currently quiet.
We will issue updates directly.
Suspension of pork imports lifted - 29/05/09
Please note that the ban on pork imports into Gabon has now been lifted.
Suspension of pork imports - 08/05/09
Please note that the Ministry of Agriculture & Farming has banned the
importation of pork, offal and pork by-products into Gabon.
Effective immediately until further notice.
Under decree Nr 15 dated April 29th, 2009.
Please note that any of these items currently at sea will not be allowed
to discharge in Gabon.
Libreville Dredging - 20/04/09
Libreville port was closed from 17-20/04/09 for a dredging operation. [SAGA
20/04/09]
Owendo-Libreville Port Dredged - March 2009
A dredging campaign has taken place from 04-08/02/09 at Owendo-Libreville port
[ports-gabon.com] by Boskalis [www.boskalis.com].
Original Draft
New Draft
Pier
Forward Draft = 7.5
Aft Draft = 9.5
Forward Draft = 9
Aft Draft = 9.5
Pier
N°3
Forward Draft = 7
Aft Draft = 8
Forward Draft = 8.5
Aft Draft = 9
Banned Timber Species - 12/03/09
Please click
here for a list of banned timber species no longer allowed by the Government of
Gabon.
AFDB Lends Gabon 256 Mln Euros For Roads-
25/01/07
Gabon has obtained a loan of US$366.1 million from the African Development
Bank [ADB] to finance a road building programme, one of the biggest projects
the bank has supported in recent years. The project aims to improve road
links to neighbouring countries and raise the proportion of asphalted roads
in Gabon to 30% by 2012 from 11% last year. The loan will cover 90% of the
programme, with Gabon's government paying the rest. [Reuters 25/10/07]
Closing of Port-Nice Quay- 08/09/07
It has been reported that toxic waste has been hidden under the construction
works of recently completed port of the economic capital of Port-Nice. The
Gabonese Minister responsible for the Merchant Navy, Claude Abdon Tchikaya
has ordered its permanent closure and suspended all activities on the site.
The port located on Cape Lopez commenced works back in 2003. [Gaboneco 08/09/07]
Portek Bags Gabon Terminal Contracts-
12/09/07
Terminal operator Portek International [www.portek.com], a Singapore-listed
company, has won a 25-year concession to operate the multipurpose ports
of Owendo, in Gabon’s capital Libreville and Port Gentil, 160km south.
Portek won the contracts through a tender bidding against other international
terminal operators. Portek currently has terminals in Algeria, Malta and
Indonesia, in addition to its crane sales and leasing business.
Through its subsidiary Gabon Port Management [GPM] the expected investment
is reported to be US$4 million with a further US$2million for cashflow. GPM
will derive its revenue through fees charged on cargo handled at these two
ports and other services rendered to port users. GPM will be responsible for
the management, maintenance and investment in infrastructure of both ports.
[Thomson Newswire/Lloyds/Logistics Review 12/09/07]
Omar Bongo Lays First Stone Of New Owendo Port Terminal
- 01/09/07
On 06/08/07, the President of Gabon Omar Bongo, launched works for a new container
terminal at the port of Owendo. The Director General of the Office of Ports
and Roads of Gabon [OPRAG], Jean Pierre Oyiba, indicated that the terminal
will cover 82m2 and when finished in 2008 will receive some 2800 containers.
The work is being financed by the Bolloré Group. [Gaboneco]
Pointe Noire Port Update - 11/05/07
During April the port of Libreville underwent repair works. A levelling campaign
was undertaken on 04/04/07 and 14/04/2007. Libreville port harbour is also
suffering congestion due to the arrival of a cement boat and is also experiencing
delays due to the knock-on impact of the sunken vessel ‘Nauticlus’ in
Port Noire port in the Congo. Fore more information please click
here.. [OTAL
Agent 11/05/07]
Owendo Closes For Dredging - 18/01/07
The port of Owendo has been closed from 18/01/07 due to dredging activities
in the port. The dredging is due to be completed by 21/01/07 at 6.00hrs
. No vessel moves will be possible during this period. As a result
port congestion may occur.
Contacts
and Links
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Gabon Port Authority – Covers Libreville
OPRAG
Office des Ports et Rades Du Gabon
Owendo
PO Box 1051
Libreville Tel: (+241) 700048 - 701759
Fax: (+241) 703735
E-mail: info@ports-gabon.com
Web: http://www.ports-gabon.com/en/port_mole.htm
Gabonese Shippers'
Council (GSC)
Covers Libreville
From 1st June 2005 all export shipments destined to Gabon must be covered
by
a BIC waiver (Bordereau d'Identification de la Cargaison/Cargo Registration
Note). For further information, please contact the Gabonese Shippers'
Council.
For a complete list of BIC agents please view http://www.otal.com/gabon/Gabon.pdf
4, avenue Franklin D. Roosevelt
BP 229-08 -75008
Paris
Tel: +33 1 56
59 91 82
Fax: +33 1 49 53 09 31
Email: info.cgc@cgc-monde.com
SIGEPRAG (International Society of Management
of Ports and Roads of Gabon)
Owendo
Po Box 1051
Libreville Tel: (+241) 701798 - 701759
Fax: (+241) 703735
Chambre de Commerce d'Agriculture, d'Industrie et
des Mines au Gabon
BP 2234 Libreville Gabon
Tel: (+241) 72 20 64
Fax: (+241) 74 64 77
