Geographical Situation Of The Port
Latitude: 06°21’N
Longitude: 002° 26’ E

Located in the Gulf of Guinea, on West African coast at about 90 nautical miles at East North East of St Paul Cape, it is an artificial port built at 30km from Porto-Novo, the capital city.

The deep water port of Cotonou built from November 1959 to June 1965, includes the East breakwater (3 berths) and a continuous quay of 660 meters long (1 to 4 berths). The Benin Coast is characterized by a very high rate of sand transit: West-East (1.2 up to 1.5 cubic meters each year); the coastal current is about two knots with a dominance of the South- West wind. The extension works carried out from March 1979 to June 1982 and the construction of the ORYX Terminal under BOT concession in 1999 has doubled the port’s capacity and enabled to set up the following infrastructures and facilities.

The port of Cotonou is mainly used for the imports of cereals and gypsum used in the construction and agricultural industries. Cotton and kapok are the main exports.

Access Facilities
• The port’s water level is about 60 hectares and contains two breakwaters: the main breakwater called West jetty which is extended southwards by a sand trap and the East jetty or cross-piece which protects the water level and allows ships drawing alongside.
• The access channel dredged on the coast to -11.00 metres and -12.00 metres let in vessels of 10m max draught.
• The swinging basin of 520m in diameter runs into the former port (commercial quay) which comprises four berths of 660m capable of receiving 9m- 9.50m draught ships, and at the cross-piece, the berth P2 designed for bulk carriers and tankers, let in 10m draught ships and the berth C is designed for 9m draught ships. The port basin of 625m long and 220m wide is meant to 10m draught ships.

Berthing Facilities
Commercial quay: Located in the north of the port basin and 1275m long, it comprises 8-10 berths which could be adjusted according to ships’ length. Among these, a 220m berth is designed for container ships and a 200m berth for rollon roll-off ships.
The Cross-piece / East jetty: 460m long and provides protection for the basin as well as ships’ drawing alongside; it includes 3 berths as follows: a berth of 200m for bulk carriers such as clinker and hydrocarbons; a 160m berth for vessels carrying vegetable oils and a 100m berth to let in refrigerated ships of weak tonnage and trawlers.

ORYX Terminal
Built and operated since 1999 by ADDAX-ORYX consortium in accordance with the BOT system, it has a 250m long berth and comprises an ultra modern delivery and warehousing system of refined oil products.

Warehousing Facilities
• Dock stores and transit warehouses. Bonded: Covering an area of 57,000m2 with a container depot of 65,000 m2 and a free zone reserved for Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso. Unbonded: Numerous warehouses and store yards.

• Reefer plugs: 56
• Bituminized platform: 20,000m2
• Park with containers arranged: 3 terminals, 150 000m2
• Free zone: for Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali and Chad
• Large platform in duty-free zone for industrial and commercial operations;
• One auction hall of 1,560m2
• One hall for sea products semi bulky sales
• Grain silos of 11,000 tonnes capacity
• Storage tanks for petroleum products and vegetable oils of 43,700m3 (SONACOP)
• One Liquid hydrocarbons storage centre (ORYX) of 55,000m2
• One butane gas storage and bottling centre of 3,200m2 Cargo

Handling Facilities
3 port operators share the cargo handling business in the port of Cotonou: SMTC (Bolloré Group), COMAN (AP MOLLER group) which loads and unloads container ships and SOBEMAP (a State-owned Company) which offer handling services to container ships as well as other types of ships (conventional ships, bulk carriers and bagged cargo ships). Cranes are only provided at the SMTC berth.

Transport Connections
Cotonou International Airport is 5km from Cotonou port; regular air transport services are offered to all countries. Cotonou port is the starting point of the Benin-Niger Railway, which extends 273 miles (439 km) into the interior but ends in the middle of Benin at Parakou. Goods can be moved another 200 miles (322 km) by road to the navigable Niger River.

Appointed PSI Agent
Bureau Veritas/BIVAC International [All orders above FCFA 3,000,000 FOB (sea/air) or above FCFA 2,000,000 FOB (land)] Import Restrictions

Francophone goods and EU goods may be imported freely. Imports from all other countries are subject to an import license. Imports from countries outside the French Franc Area valued over CFA Francs 500,000 must be registered with an authorized bank and the import certificate or license, valid for 6 months, is issued by the Directorate of External Commerce.

Goods Exempted from PSI
a) Scrap metals
b) Objects of art
c) Explosives and pyrotechnic products
d) Weapons and ammunition
e) Live animals
f) Used tyres
g) Precious stones and precious metals
h) Current newspapers and periodicals
i) Used household and personal effects
j) Commercial samples
k) Non-frozen perishable food products
l) Recorded and developed films for public purposes (35mm)
m) Medicines and pharmaceutical products
n) Natural or artificial plants or cut flowers
o) Goods exempt from duties and taxes
p) Gifts by foreign governments to State schools and libraries, religious missions, foundations charities and recognised humanitarian organisations; gifts or supplies to diplomatic or consular missions or UN organisations imported for their own needs

Prohibitive Imports
Mosquito repellent coils of brand name 'Cock Brand' and others containing 'DDT' Commercial Invoices Invoices should show the usual full details. All copies should bear the following declaration: "Nous certifions que les marchandises faisant l'objet de cette fourniture ont été fabriquées au pays suivant: [NAME OF COUNTRY] et que la valeur sous mentionnée est juste et conforme a nos écritures." (Translation: We hereby certify that the goods to which this invoice relates were manufactured in [NAME OF COUNTRY] and that the value stated is correct and in accordance with our books.)

To be signed by a director, secretary, partner, etc, and endorsed by an authorised Chamber of Commerce. Facsimile signatures are accepted by Customs. Customs require 2 copies.

Dangerous Cargo Regulations
Dangerous cargo regulations are in force. Cargo of class 7, IMDG code (Radioactive materials) must not be imported to Benin. The port new zoning plan provides a special designed area for IMDG code goods. 2 days before the vessel arrives, she must provide the harbour authorities with the manifests and the documents relating to
the dangerous cargo by specifying the classes, the quantities and the consignees. Steps are to be taken by the vessel consignment company so that the cargo could be collected under hoist; no dangerous cargo is allowed to stay inside the port. Cargos of class 1, IMDG code (explosives and ammunitions) are transported to their destination under police force and port security agents’ control.

Port Facilities Security
The ISPS code is in force at Cotonou Port. The control of port area is under the responsibility of the harbour master’s office which employs in fact harbour officers and security agents for the enforcement of the police regulations of Cotonou port. The harbour master’s office is helped in this duty by: The Port Special Squad of Gendarme that guarantees security and safety inside the port area with the support of the port security and safety agents in accordance with the police regulations and on the instructions of the Harbour Master. Meanwhile the Port Special Police Station guarantees safety and security outside the customs areas with the support of safety and security agents, in accordance with the provisions of the police regulations and on the instructions of Harbour Master.

Holidays
Port operations are stopped on: January 1st / May 1st (Labour Day) / August 1st (Independence Day) / December 25th (Christmas)

Contact Details
The Port Authority
The Port Authority of Cotonou
01 PO Box 927 Cotonou, Benin
Tel: (+229) 21-31-52-80 / 21-31-28-90
Fax: (+229) 21-31-28-91
Email: pac@leland.bj
Website: www.portdecotonou.com

Cotonou Port Customs Office
Secretary’s office: (+229) 21-31-05-75 / 21-31-05-71 / 21-31-22-36
Customs revenue officer: Mrs Felicité DAN ZINSOU
Cotonou Port Customs Brigade Head Officer
Customs officers are located in the harbour.
Brigade Head Officer Secretary’s office: (+229) 21-31-22-69
Customs Brigade Head Officer: Colonel Marcellin ZANNOU
Mobile phone (229) 95-95-71-95

Control Tower
Tel: (+229) 21-31-40-33