OT Africa Line Service Brochure
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For comprehensive details highlighting our service from Cameroon please
see our latest service
brochure.
Douala
Port Information
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Port Infrastructure
Douala is situated on the southeastern shore of the Wouri
River estuary, on the Atlantic coast about 130 miles (210 km) west
of Yaoundé. The Wouri Bridge, 5,900 feet (1,800 m) long, joins
Douala to the banana port of Bonabéri and carries both road
and rail traffic to western Cameroon.
The city is connected by road to all major towns in Cameroon,
has rail links to Kumba, Nkongsamba, Yaoundé, and Ngaoundéré,
and is served by an international airport.
One of the major industrial centres of central Africa,
Douala houses breweries, textile factories, and palm-oil, soap, and
food-processing plants. It also produces building materials, metalwork,
plastics, glass, paper, bicycles, and timber products. Other activities
include boat and ship repairing, railway engineering, and radio assembly.
Offshore reserves of natural gas had not been exploited by the mid-1990s.
Douala port is located 24km up stream on the left hand
bank on the River Wouri.
Douala is mainly an export port for timber, cocoa, coffee,
bananas, cotton and aluminium. Douala's deepwater port handles most
of the country's overseas trade. It has special installations for handling
timber products, bananas, gasoline, and bauxite, as well as fishing
facilities. Imports include chemicals, fuel, cereals and building equipment.
There are 11 cargo berths in total, 9 of which are used
for general cargo with 58,000m² of warehousing. There is also
380,000m² of open storage space and 8,000m² of cold storage
available.
Douala also has a timber port providing 200,000m² of
stacking yards.
OTAL calls at the Container Terminal ITS GIE details
are as follows:
Location
Lat: 04º 03’N Long: 09º 41’E
Pre Arrival Information
Port Traffic Control: VHF CH 16 Tel: (+237) 3422154
Coastal Radio Station: Tel: (+237) 3420916 / 3428283
Call sign: TJC5 – TJC6 and TJC8
Frequencies: 500KHZ, 2182 KHZ, 8420KHZ, 12582KHZ
Arrival Notice: 72/48/24hrs notice required port agent
Draft at Berth
8.5m
Draft at Harbour
Mouth
Wouri Channel 5.5m plus tide from 1.85m to
2.9m
Tide variance is between 0.3m at low water and to 2.90m at
high water. Draft permitting vessels movements are fixed 1
hour before high tide for berthing or sailing, but no later
than 1 hour after.
No of Deepwater
Quays
1 quay, berths 1-16
Length of Quay
Berths 15 and 16 are container berths with
a lenght of 500m. Total length is 2300m
Cranes
2 IHI gantry cranes (40 T capacity) and one
floating crane
Storage
22 hectares of renovated stacking area, 28000
m2 of renovated quay strip and recently renovated terminal
buildings. The terminal (Container Terminal ITS GIE) itself
has 3 berths and can handle over 5000 teu full containers in
its stacking area. 15 meters separates stacks, allowing terminal
equipment to work. Space is also allocated for RoRo and newly
resurfaced quay allows cargo/equipment to move around terminal
efficiently.
Working Hours
2 shifts: 0730hrs - 1700hrs and 1730hrs - 0630hrs
Port overtime: Saturday, Sunday, holidays and after 1800hrs
on normal days.
Holidays:
1st January : New Year Day [Not workable]
11th February: Youth Day
[Variable] March: Easter Day
1st May: Labour Day [Not workable]
05th May: Ascension
20th May: National day [Not workable]
15th August: Assumption
25th December: Christmas day [Not workable]
Unfixed: Ramadan & Tabaski
[Not workable day: port operation stopped 1800hrs the day before
and resumed 0700hrs the day after. No operation, no sailing
or berthing during closure period]
ISPS
ISPS certified since 01/07/04 security level 1
Rail
Rail for timber only but not available for containers
Afforded on berth no 3
Airport
Douala International Airport is 10mins [4km] from the port
Click here to
view
SAGA's access and infrastructural review on Douala port.
Privatisation & Terminal Improvements
ITS have completed a number of improvements in the terminal
which have increased efficiency and turn around time for OTAL vessels.
Most of the terminal had been resurfaced, either tarmac
or cobbles, allowing equipment to operate efficiently. Two gantry cranes
are now in place which can average 16 mph, however terminal estimated
that figure will increase to up to 20 mph. There are twenty Stevdores
being trained to operate the cranes, 9 now hold certificates. Shore
handling equipment is in good order and has sufficient capacity to
cope with volume of our vessels. Additional trailers are also being
purchased.
Equipment comprises of Toplifters, Reach-stackers and
Forklifts that are supplied by the stevedores. The terminal does not
operate its own trailers and tugs, at present these are hired locally.
Special trailers were reported to be ordered for gantry operations.
This would speed up operations during discharge as aligning containers
on conventional trailers is slowing operations. The storage/repair
yard equipment is modern and in good working order.
Inland Trucking Services
OTAL provides customers with a trucking service, transporting
cargo to, from and within Cameroon. OTAL also acts as a major handler
of transit cargo for Chad.
OTAL offers through transport services using a single
document, the Combined Transport Bill of Lading (CBTL). With track
and trace facilities in place we are able to track exactly where your
cargo is every step of the way.
For further information on OTAL's inland services from Douala
please click here.
Transport
News
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US$852 Million Required To Build The Deepwater Port Of
Limbe - 24/12/09
According to a feasibility study released on 22/12/09 by the Limbe Port Development
Corporation [LPDC] and partners from Korea, it will cost US$852 million to
build the deepwater port of Limbe, SW Cameroon. According to the study projected
traffic for its launch phase in 2012 is 5,000 tons of cargo, averaging at
200,000 containers per year with the port handling 40,000 tons of cargo by
2050.
The deepwater project is to cover 4 areas that of commercial and industrial
activities, coastal shipping, a container terminal and the export of oil through
the National Society of Refining [SONAR].
Despite the environmental and social issues raised during the
presentation of the report, particularly through the expropriation of shoreline,
the Cameroonian
authorities have reiterated their commitment to achieve this project yet
funding remains undefined. [Xinhua 24/12/09]
Kribi Sea Port Construction Project Imminent - 30/12/09
The research into the potential Kribi Deep Sea Port project is at its final
phase. A plane equipped with material to collect topographic data arrived
in Douala alongside South African technicians who are specialists in such
data
collection. The latest development is sign that the final take off of the
construction of the Kribi Deep Sea Port is imminent. [CRTV 30/12/09]
US$190 Million From The Afdb To Link Up Congo And Cameroon
- 28/09/09
The African Development Bank (AfDB www.afdb.org) Group approved on 25/09/09
a package worth US$190 million to link up Congo and Cameroon.
This funding from the African Development Fund, the concessional window of
the AfDB Group, comprises a grant of US$97 million and a loan of US$93 million.
The Ketta-Djoum Road and the Brazzaville-Yaoundé Transport Corridor
Facilitation Project will assist in strengthening regional integration in
Central Africa. It will enable interconnecting highways linking Cameroon,
Congo, DRC,
Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and CAR.
In addition to improving the movement of people and goods between
Congo and Cameroon, it will open up areas with significant economic potential
in Northern
Congo (agriculture, ore, timber, etc.) and in the South-eastern part of Cameroon.
The 504.5-km Ketta-Djoum Road is a major link on the 1,612-km highway connecting
the two capital cities of Brazzaville (Republic of Congo) and Yaoundé,
(Cameroon).
At completion, the project, to be implemented in two phases, will provide
a completely paved corridor between Brazzaville and Yaoundé. At present
no permanent road connection actually exists between the capitals of the two
countries (Yaoundé and Brazzaville).
Phase I: Includes, (in Congo), paving of the Ketta-Biessi section (121km) and
minimal works on the Biessi-Cameroon border earth road section (195 km). In
Cameroon, it involves minimal works on the Congo border-Mintom earth road section
(105.5 km) and paving of the Mintom-Djoum section (83km). Phase II: Paving the
remaining Biessi-Cameroon border earth road section (195km) in Congo and paving
the remaining Congo border-Mintom
earth road section.
Tanker Crashes Into Limbe Port - 10/08/09
A tanker has hit the quay at Limbe port drastically damaging the discharging
arm for oil and gas. Operations have been affected as a result. Meanwhile
Limbe port is due to close for 2-months from October to December 2009. A
temporary storage ship will be installed by Société Nationale
de Raffinage [SONARA] at Cap Limboh anchorage. [SAGA 10/08/09]
Traffic Via Douala - Additional Fee - 04/08/09
Please note effective 01/09/09 B/L date all CTBL traffic via Douala will attract
an additional fee of EUR 69 per truck.
This charge will cover a new customs process – click
here for background
details [French only].
A new tariff will be issued in due course.
Limbe Deep Seaport Project - 31/07/09
The General Manager of the National Ports Authority, Josue Youmba, has announced
that feasibility studies for a new port complex will be through next month
noting that the studies were well advanced than those at Kribi port. The complex,
he said, will comprise of the SONARA terminal which handles petroleum products,
a shipyard and the Nguema terminal for commerce. The projects co-ordinator,
Richard Mbantapah, noted that the port will be constructed about 300 to 400
meters into the sea so as to have the necessary depth of water which is about
14 meters. The project will be realized in three phases. The first phase which
will have two container terminals will end in 2015 when the first ship is expected
in Limbe, the second phase will end in 2025 while the third, everything being
equal, will be over in 2035. [CT 31/07/09]
Cameroon/Nigeria Sign US$155.29 Million Loan Agreement
For Transnational Road - 15/05/09
Cameroon and Nigeria signed a US$155.29 million loan agreement for a multi-national
highway and transport facility project between the two countries. The bilateral
agreement was signed at the on-going 44th
annual meetings of the African Development Bank (AfDB) in Dakar. The project
follows the setting up of the Nigeria-Cameroon Mixed Commission in 2002.
The road is an integral part of the proposed Lagos-Mombassa-Trans-African Highway.
A common border checkpoint will also be built.
Cameroon's Minister of Economy and Regional Development, Mr Louis Motaze and
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance and Nigeria's Alternate Governor at
AfDB, Mr Stephen Orosanye, signed the agreement on behalf of the Federal Government
of Nigeria. [TD 15/05/09]
Cameroon to Double Kribi Sea Port to Four Terminals -
12/03/09
Cameroon will double the number of terminals at the new Kribi deep-sea port
project in the south of the country to four after the government adjusted
its plans to meet new traffic forecasts.
Meeting in its fourth session under the
chairmanship of Louis Paul Motaze, Minister of the Economy, Planning and Regional
Development / Cameroon Ministre
des Domaines et des Affaires Foncières [MINDAF www.mindaf.gov.cm], committee
members examined and adopted the general plan for the installation of the port
infrastructure for the deep water port of Kribi known as the Kribi Ports Complex.
New locations have been proposed for the project requiring a shift of installations
to the southern part of Kribi where the marine, topographical and environmental
conditions are best to host vessels.
The harbour complex project is now to include
four different terminals each with specific services and activities.
Kribi,
located 300km [186 miles] south of the capital, Yaounde: fishing and leisure
activities
Grand Batanga, 2km south of Kribi: tourism and industrial fishing
Mboro 3km away: industrial, commercial and naval activities
Lolabe, another 3km southwards: iron ore and mineral transportation
Under the
original plans, the port would have had two terminals, at Kribi and Grand
Batanga. The decision to specialise the terminals has been on the
discussion table since May 2008 during the round table conference organised
in Yaounde which equally provided occasion for investors to declare their
intensions towards the project.
Estimated to cost over CFA 282 billion [US$544million],
work on the first phase of the Kribi Ports Complex is programmed to start
in December, 2009 with
the first services operational by the end of 2013. The project will be financed
by private-public finance partnership under the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT)
system. [Source: CT 02/03/09 / BL 03/03/09 / Lexpressplus 12/03/09]
Cameroon Custom Fines - 04/02/09
Please note there are fixed penalties applicable by the Cameroonian customs
regarding manifest modifications.
These penalties are considerable and non negotiable. Please click
here for
more details.
Example:
Using an approximate exchange of US$1 = 485 CFA means fines can reach over
US$5,000
European Union, Cameroon Sign Interim Trade Deal - 15/01/09
The EU and Cameroon have signed a "stepping stone" economic partnership
agreement [EPA] trade deal on
15/01/09 pending a broader regional accord with central African states. Like
similar interim deals signed with
other African countries, the agreement grants Cameroon's exports duty free,
quota free access to the EU
market, but gives Cameroon 15-years to dismantle tariffs on 80% of its imports
from the EU.
Sundance To Build Iron Ore Port In Cameroon As Part Of
Multi-User Deep Water Port Project - 14/01/09
Australia-listed Sundance Resources Limited, which has iron ore assets
in Cameroon, has been selected to develop a US$236 million iron ore export
facility south of the coastal town of Kribi as part of a multi-user deepwater
port project.
Sundance's Cameroon subsidiary Cam Iron SA will develop the hub.
Under the Government proposal, the new port is to be developed as a multi-user
facility by some of the largest resources, logistics and construction companies
in the world.
The new port is expected to become a major shipping hub servicing the Mbalam
Iron Ore Project [production due to start 2012 /one of the 10th largest in
the world] and Belinga Project as well as other emerging industries in the
region. The port is expected to service neighbouring Congo and Gabon.
Cameroon Transport Minister Gounoko Haounaye announced the decision
last week following a review of proposals from a range of international developers
and
port operators.
Cam Iron submitted its proposal to the Cameroon Government both as an independent
operator and as part of a consortium comprising Rio Tinto Alcan, the Bolloré Group
and the Vinci Group – all major international companies with existing
operations in Cameroon.
The iron ore export terminal will be built by Cam Iron as a stand-alone facility
but with provision for staged development of multi-user operations by the other
selected operators, allowing for sharing of common infrastructure and utilities.
Phased additional development by the other selected operators
in the development of the multi-user port comprise of:
Cam Iron SA Financing,
construction and operation of the iron ore terminal
Rio Tinto Alcan Financing,
construction and operation of the aluminium terminal
Bolloré Group Financing,
construction and operation of the container terminal
Angelkique / SCDP Financing,
construction and operation of the hydrocarbons terminal
Petredec / Camship
Vinci / SOGEA / SATOM Financing and construction of civil works,
infrastructure and utilities
Boskalis International
The iron ore terminal will receive, stockpile, reclaim and shipload high-grade
DSO and concentrate products for export.
The port site selected by Cam Iron allows development of an open water berth
capable of handling ships of up to 250,000 DWT capacity with a berth depth
of 22m. Recent marine surveys have allowed optimisation of the port design with total
marine construction costs now estimated to be in the range of US$160 million
(excluding materials handling infrastructure and utilities). This is approximately
US$50 million less than the cost estimate provided in the Pre-Feasibility Study. The
Cameroon Government has retained specialist international consultants to provide
advice on the development process for the multi-user port. The next
steps in this process will comprise:
development of the Port Master Plan to accommodate
the traffic and operational requirements of each of the selected operators;
award of concession agreements;
development of technical documentation;
arranging of funding (target date being September 2009). [Source: Creamer
Media / Metal Bulletin / Mineweb 13/01//09]
Cameroon BESC - New Fines - 14/01/09
Please be reminded that a Bordereau Electronique de Suivi des Cargaisons [BESC]
/ Cargo Tracking Note is required for all cargo [containerised/non-containerised]
to / from or via Cameroon. This decree No 0557/MINT has been in force since
11/07/06 by the Conseil National des Chargeurs Camerounais [CNCC].
As from 01/02/09
all missing BESC will be fined as follows by the CNCC:
· Shippers will
have to pay the missing BESC plus a tax of 100% of the missing BESC value. · The
ship-owner loading or discharging cargo without BESC will be fined FCFA 1 million
[approx US$2,000].
Please contact CNCC direct for further details and a list
of CNCC agencies offices:
Direction Générale du Conseil National
des Chargeurs du Cameroun (CNCC)
Centre des Affaires Maritimes, Bonanjo
3e étage Immeuble IGH
BP 1588 Douala
Tel: [+237] 3343 67 67
Fax: [+237] 3343 70 17
Web: www.cncc-cam.org
Email: info@cncc-cam.org
AfDB Lends Nigeria, Cameroon US$280 Million For Express
Road - 06/12/08
The African Development Bank [AfDB www.afdb.org] has lent Nigeria and Cameroon
US$280-million to
finance a road project linking the two western African nations. The objective
of the project is to contribute to
the regional integration, increase trade and strengthen cooperation between
Cameroon and Nigeria and
between ECOWAS and CEMAC markets. About 11 million people in both countries
are expected to benefit
from this project.
The present program concerns the rehabilitation/reconstruction
of the Highway from Enugu-Abakaliki-Ogoja
Junction-Ikom Mfum in Nigeria to Ekok-Mamfe-Batibo in Cameroon and Transport
facilitation between Enugu
and Bamenda. The Program will have 4-components, namely the reconstruction
and/or rehabilitation of the
corridor road, ancillary works, transport and transit facilitation measures,
and program management. Given
its magnitude, the program is planned for implementation in 2-phases.
The first phase of the program on the Nigerian side will include
the following components:
(i) the reconstruction of the Ogoja Junction-Abakaliki section [85km];
(ii) the rehabilitation/periodical maintenance of the Mfum-Ogoja-Junction section
[75km];
(iii) the transport and transit facilitation measures;
(iv) ancillary works to improve the living conditions of the population;
(v) program management.
The Second Phase of the program will comprise:
(vi) the construction of two new bridges, one [100m] on the Munaya River in
Cameroon and the
other [230m] on the Cross River at the border between the Nigeria and Cameroon;
(vii) the construction of the Batibo-Numba section and the periodic maintenance
of the Bamenda-
Batibo and Bachuo Akagbé-Mamfé sections in Cameroon.
Under the second phase, the construction of a dual carriage
way between Abakaliki and Enugu [80km] will
be considered. [RT 06/12/08]
Cameroon Government Announce Companies To Build Grand
Batanga Port - 18/09/08
The Cameroon government announced on 18/09/08 companies short listed to build
a US$655-million port in
Cameroon. [24 applications were received and following analysis the steering
committee short listed 16 of
them.] The selection process is to be completed by December and in January
sign a build, operate and
transfer [BOT] system of contracts is hoped to be in place. Building work is
due to begin in September or
October 2009.
Companies on the list include:
•
Global miner Rio Tinto and Australia's Sundance Resources subsidiary CamIron
both want to
develop mineral projects in the country, as does American firm Hydromine.
•
China Harbour Engineering Corporation
•
Maersk
•
Vinci
Cameroon is aiming to attract investment of US$10-billion in
its bauxite, iron-ore, cobalt, uranium and nickel
deposits in the next few years, and improved infrastructure, including
ports, are a key part of that drive. The
proposed new deep seaport at Grand Batanga near Kribi in the south of the
country would be able to take
much larger vessels than main port Douala. It would be linked by road and
rail to major mining projects under
development in Cameroon's interior.
Douala currently handles 95% of the import and export traffic
from Cameroon and neighbouring landlocked
Chad and CAR. The port is restricted in the size of the ships it can
handle owing to its location on the
sediment-filled River Wouri estuary, which demands constant dredging.
[RT 18/09/08]
Sundance Resources To Build Railway - 17/06/08
Australian mining group Sundance Resources has a concession to develop iron
ore reserves at Mbalam, near the border with Congo Brazzaville. These are
expected to generate around 35 million tonnes of haematite each year for
export to Europe, India and China. The company told investors last month
that it had identified a preferred route for the 490 km standard-gauge railway
which would link the mine to a proposed port at Lolabi, around 140 km south
of Douala. Sundance hopes to start construction by mid-2009, with the first
ore to be shipped in mid-2012. [Railway Gazette 17/06/08]
The Port of Douala’s Quest for Competitiveness
- 14/06/08
The verdict is unambiguous: the operational weakness of the Port of Douala [PAD
- Port Autonome de Douala], which handles 95% of Cameroon’s port traffic,
hinders the country’s economic activities. The clearance of goods and delivery
delays are far too long, causing disruptions in revenue collection amongst other
consequences. The weak labour organization is causing delays in container release,
explained a customs official who wishes to remain anonymous. In volumes, imports
have increased by 30% since 2006. The number of containers rose by 9% in 2006
to reach 34,170 [the last known statistics], representing a containerized traffic
of 530,192 tonnes and 570
discharged ships.
Despite the presence of about twenty operators employing about
2000 dockers, the weak handling productivity hinders the competitiveness of
this regional hub. The problem is not new. During the presidential election
campaign of 2004, plans were unveiled to allow Douala to compete with the other
ports of the gulf of Guinea. The concessioning of the container terminal in
June 2004 was expected to enhance performances. The consortium at the helm,
Douala International Terminal [DIT], includes the Dutch operator AP Moller-Maersk
[31%], the French
Getma [Bolloré group, 28%] and Cameroonians operators. The DIT pays
an annual fee of FCFA3.1bn [€4.7m] to the PAD and has an annual turnover
of FCFA22bn, charging FCFA 145,000 for each discharged 40’ container.
The recently appointed Cameroonian Minister of Finance Essimi Menye has held
emergency talks with all operators. New equipment should be installed before
July with the aim of handling 300 containers per year, 3 times the current
rhythm. Daya Mounoume, who was appointed managing director at the end of January,
has for mission
to smooth the relationship between the port authority and the concessionaire.
He also intends to secure the port channel through dredging to allow larger
ships in the port. Boscampo, the company responsible for this is out of contract
and according to sources, Bolloré will take this opportunity. But its
director for Cameroon Christophe Pujalte denies this: “our group has
never been responsible for dredging the channel, not yesterday, not today nor
tomorrow.” [JA 14/06/08]
US$683.5 Million Kribi Deep Seaport - An Industrial Oriented
Project - 01/05/08
Earmarked to be built at Grand Batanga, 10km south of Kribi, the new US$683.5
million [CFA 282 billion] ‘
Kribi Deep Seaport’ sets out to be a multifaceted economic hub. Essentially
designed to serve the needs of
industrial companies, notably those involved in mining, transporting and receiving
heavy equipment for
mineral extraction, the port is equally expected to serve other purposes.
According to the Ministry of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development
who presented the project in
early March to investors in Douala, the Kribi Deep seaport will harbour ships
involved in the importation and
exportation of containers. It will also handle iron ore in-puts and iron ore
final products for exports extracted
from the deposits at Mamelles situated 30km south east of Kribi and Mbalam,
600km from Kribi. The port will
also serve as traffic for the importation of petroleum products.
In 2012, traffic in Kribi port is expected to hit between 2.9
and 4 million tons. This amount will increase to
between 4.8 and 10.4 million tons in 2030 representing 31-35% of Cameroon’s
total traffic in 2012 and 32-
45% in 2030.
The Kribi Deep Seaport will during its first phase witness the creating of
basic port infrastructure including a
2,800m quay in the southern and western side of the port and 11 million m3
of drainage. Four terminal points
will be created. One container terminal, one petroleum products terminal by
2012 and one iron ore and one
aluminium terminal to be built by 2010 and 2015 respectively. The first phase
will include construction of
parking lot, port buildings and terminals.
The US$683.5million [CFA 282 billion] estimates for the project
will be used as follows: US$489.6 million
[CFA 202 billion] for port infrastructure and terminals, US$104.2 million [CFA
43 billion] for terminal
superstructures and US$89.7 million [CFA 37 billion] for equipment. The building
of the Kribi Deep Seaport
will be accompanied by other tributary projects. These include:
Creation of land services and integrating them to the
national and Central African road network,
notably the Kribi-Ebolowa-Sangmelima-Ouesso (Congo Brazzaville) and Sangmelima-Nolakisangani
(DRC)
Creation of rail way services linked to the port
Definition of a commercial and industrial development plan
Construction of a thermal electric station to furnish energy to the port
and to the future commercial
and industrial zone.
The project will be executed based on a Public-Private sector
Partnership [PPP]. The public partner will be
financing the construction of the basic port infrastructure while the private
sector partner will finance the
superstructures and the equipment.
China Among Interested Investors For Cameroon Port - 10/05/08
Companies from China, Canada and Europe have expressed interest in investing
in the building of a US$655
million multi-purpose deep seaport in south Cameroon that will serve major
mineral export projects. The plan
for the port to be located at Grand Batanga, 10 km [6 miles] south of Kribi,
was presented to potential
investors at a two-day meeting that ended on 09/05/08 in Yaounde.
The projected port facility, whose depth will allow the entry of much larger
ships than those currently served
by Cameroon's main port of Douala, would consist of four
terminals; for containers, oil products, iron ore and aluminium.
Cameroon's Economy, Planning and Regional Development
Minister Louis Paul Motaze noted a Chinese company, China
Harbour Engineering Co. [CHEC] www.chec.bj.cn had shown
interest in taking on the entire project. Other companies from
Canada, Europe and Africa were interested in buying stakes
in the port project, whose initial cost was estimated at US
$655 million [282 billion CFA francs].
Motaze also stated he was certain construction work on the
first phase will start in 2010 and the first traffic will flow
through the port by 2013. He added the interested investors
were insisting on build, operate and transfer [BOT]
arrangements for the project. They had requested more
information and follow-up meetings would be held before it
was decided who the final partners would be.
Douala, which handles 95% of the
import and export traffic of Cameroon and neighbouring landlocked CAR
and Chad, is restricted in the size of the ships it can handle because of its
location on the sediment-filled
River Wouri estuary. Its position demands constant dredging.
The proposed new deep seaport near Kribi would be able to take much larger
vessels and would be linked
by road and rail to major iron ore, cobalt, nickel and bauxite mining projects
under development in
Cameroon's interior. This includes a proposed 490 km [300 mile] railway line
between the projected port and
the Mbalam iron ore project of The Cameroon Iron Ore Company [CamIron], controlled
by Australia's
Sundance Resources. CamIron’s general manager Roger Bogne stated his
company was very keen to invest
in the development of the new seaport, at least in the iron ore terminal, so
as to have an export outlet for the
ore it planned to deliver from Mbalam by 2011.
When completed, the projected port was also expected to serve
as a major shipment point for tropical hard
wood from south-eastern Cameroon, northern Gabon and Republic of Congo. [RT
10/05/08]
New Douala Links - 01/03/08
The African Development Bank [ADB] has finally agreed to fund the construction
of new highways linking the CAR and Chad to the port of Douala. The ADB will
provide a loan of US$76.57 million to enable the development of modern surfaced
roads from Douala to N’djamena [Chad] and Bangui [CAR]. This program
falls within Nepad’s framework that is aimed at creating commercially
and economically viable corridors devoid of barriers and road blocks. It is
expected that the roads will intersect with Cameroon’s existing rail
network to allow containers to be switched from road to rail, reducing freight
transit times to and from the port. All three countries involved are part of
the Economic and Monetary Union of Central African States [CEMAC], which aims
to harmonise trade regulations and boost intra-regional trade over the next
decade. The new roads should increase demand at Douala International Container
Terminal [DIT] that holds a 15 year concession at the port until 2019. [WCN
March 2008]
Maritime Boundary Mapped - 01/07/08
Following the settlement of the delimitation of the maritime boundary line
on 10/05/07, representatives of Cameroon
and Nigeria will officially signed off the nautical map transposing the agreed
maritime boundary between the two
countries and review the demarcation of the 830km land boundary agreed so far.
A geodetic network covering the
entire 1,950km land boundary, was established earlier this year, thanks to
international funding with contributions
from Cameroon, Nigeria, the UK and EU. [UN, 07/03]
Cameroon National Shippers Council Reinstated - 28/03/08
Prime Minister Ephraim Inoni held a working session with the Union of African
Shippers Council [UCCA]. The
President of UCCA, Bakayoko Dramane used the discussions to thank the government
of Cameroon for reinstituting
the Cameroon National Shippers Council [CNCC] and paying arrears CNCC owed
UCCA.
Dramane also reported on the recent forum held in Douala that revised CNCC
regulations. [CT 28/03/08]
Feasibility Studies Progress For Yaounde-Douala Express
Way - 17/03/08
Prime Minister Ephraim Inoni met with the South African engineering team,
Sizatech Consulting Engineers,
who are undertaking feasibility studies on the construction of the express
way linking Cameroon's political
capital, Yaounde to the economic capital, Douala. A team from the Prime Minister's
Office and the
Department of Public Works are expected to visit South Africa to review the
studies and examine the product
that will be used on the road. [CT 17/03/08]
Cameroon Strikes EU Trade Deal - 12/12/07
Cameroon's parliament has authorised the president to sign an interim trade
deal with the European Union, joining a growing number of poor nations inking
11th-hour accords before preferential trade terms expire. The EU is rushing
to strike basic interim deals with the comparatively better off former colonies
to avoid disruption to their goods exports when preferential terms expire
on Dec. 31.
The Cameroon national assembly adopted a bill on 12/12/07authorising the president
to sign an interim economic partnership agreement with the European Union.
Opposition members of parliament had opposed the bill, introduced a few days
before, saying they had not had enough time to study and modify the text. But
President Paul Biya's Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM) carried
the vote due to its overwhelming majority. It is unclear when Biya would sign
the agreement.
Like other countries, cocoa-and banana-exporting Cameroon had
been under pressure to reach an interim deal to ensure its exports to the EU
are not hit by increased
tariffs on Jan.1. The World Trade Organisation has deemed Europe's preferential
trade terms for nearly 80 African, Caribbean and Pacific countries illegal
and a waiver expires on Dec. 31. The poorest countries will still qualify for
preferential terms under Europe's "everything
but arms" deal, but those slightly better off, including Cameroon which
is the world's fourth biggest cocoa grower, will not.
Top cocoa producer Ivory Coast initialled a deal last week with Brussels [See
Cote d’Ivoire section below], the first to break ranks with regional
bloc ECOWAS's demand for more time, and neighbouring Ghana, the second biggest
grower, is expected to reach a deal soon. [Reuters 12/12/07]
Buoys Under Maintenance - 26/11/07
Several inner buoys at Douala port have been removed for maintenance [No’s
10/1112/13/14/15/16/21/24/ 25/29/32/34/35/36/38]. All outer buoys are now back
in position after also undergoing maintenance. [SAGA 26/11/07]
Transport Syndicates Call off Strike Action -
04/10/07
The secretary of State at the Ministry of Transport, Mefiro Oumarou, met with
leaders of the road transport sector aimed at pre-empting a strike action
set for 22/10/07. Following discussions, the parties established a permanent
forum and a defined map for collaboration between the administration and
trade unions. [CT 04/10/07]
Scrapping of Customs Duty Revised -
12/04/07
According to the Minister of Economy and Finance, Polycarpe Abah Abah, all
products from the European Union entering CEMAC countries from January 1,
2008 will not as anticipated enter free from customs duty. A 25-year transitional
period has now been muted for CEMAC to effectively prepare to scrap the customs
duty. However several products from CEMAC countries will from January 2008,
enter the EU duty free. [TP 12/04/07]
Customs Administration Cooperation For Competitiveness -
30/03/07
Prime Minister Ephraim Inoni held a working session with the Director General
of Customs of the Central and West African Region of the World Customs
Organisation, during which they discussed the harmonisation of customs
services, simplification
of customs procedures, modernisation of customs administration, information
exchange, and cooperation.
Discussions between the Customs officials and Prime
Minister Inoni also focused on the new Economic Partnership Agreement which
is being negotiated between
the African-Caribbean countries and the European Union in relation to customs
duties exemption for goods originating from the European Union. [CT 30/03/07]
Free Trade Zone - 03/03/07
A seminar was recently organized in Kribi in view of an economic partnership
which is presently under negotiation between the European Union and the Cameroon
government which aims at creating a free trade zone. The European Union recently
offered 4 million euros which will be used in the preparation of the Economic
Partnership Agreement [EPA]. The program which is expected to last two years
will kick off in February. [WABA 28/01/07]
Meeting to Boost International Trade - 03/03/07
Experts and ministers in charge of industries from the six countries in the
CEMAC region recently met at the Yaoundé Hilton Hotel to discuss the
challenges ahead and propose a strategy for boosting the economy of the sub-region.
The three sectors of the economy identified as the best channel through which
industrialization can pass are: agro-industry, textile and forestry. There
was a general consensus to improve the quality of cotton in the CEMAC sub-region
so as to better penetrate the international market.
Cameroon and China Discuss
Closer Bilateral Ties - 03/03/07
Visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao held talks with his Cameroonian counterpart,
Paul Biya, on closer bilateral ties. During the talks, the Presidents exchanged
views on the development of China-Cameroon co-operation. They also suggested
more efforts be made on economic cooperation that would benefit both countries,
particularly in agriculture, primary products processing, infrastructure
and telecommunications.[Xinhua 01/02/07]
Cameroon National Council [CNC] - Avis aux Chargeurs,
Transitaires, Consignataires et Armateurs -
30/01/07
The Managing Director of the Cameroon National Shippers’ Council
(CNCC) wish to inform all stakeholders from the shipping and international
trade industries, in particular shippers, forwarders, consignees and shipowners,
that from 1st February 2007 the functions of representative of the CNCC for
imports of all goods towards the Republic of Cameroon from the ports of Europe,
Africa, America, Asia and Middle-East, responsible for the delivery of the
Bordereau Electronique de Suivi des Cargaisons [BESC] or Electronic Cargo Tracking
Note,
will be held by the General Agent.
Phoenix Europe Express
28-30, Rue Léon Jouhaux
ZI de la Fosse à la Barbière
93 605 Aulnay-Sous-Bois CEDEX
Tél: 00331 48 14 34 60
Fax: 00331 48 14 34 64
E-mail: Pierchon@phoenix-europe.fr
Besides the representatives in the various
ports whose list is attached, the BESC can also be obtained from its internet
site: www.phoenix-europe.fr chapter
BESC. The delivery of the BESC for export and BESC for regularization
is still taken care of by:
La Direction Générale du CNCC
Sise, au Centre des Affaires Maritimes - Bonanjo
Tél: 00 237 343 67 67
Fax: 00 237 343 70 17
Web: www.cncc-cam.org <http://www.cncc-cam.org>
E-mail: info@cncc-cam.org <mailto:info@cncc-cam.org
The Managing Director
of the CNCC wishes to remind you that BESCs whose mentions are incorrect
will not be validated. Import and export shipments of any ocean freight without
a BESC will cause the creation of a regularization BESC, in compliance with
clause 12 of the
circular 00557/MINT of 11 July 2006 regarding the institutionalisation of
the Electronic Cargo Tracking Note (BESC). [30/11/06]
ASYCUDA/SYDONIA Customs System Launched In Cameroon -
30/01/07 Since the beginning of January 2007 a new automated Customs system has
been launched in Douala. The Automated SYstem for CUstoms DAta [ASYCUDA] / SYstème
DOuaNIer Automatisé [SYDONIA] has replaced the former PAGODE system. Initial
delays are being experienced within this transitional period. Goods are taking
much longer to clear as often declarations have to be input into
both the new and old systems. At the time of writing the DIT container park
was 96% full and the port was in danger of congestion.
For more information
about this system please view:
www.sydonia.org
www.cnuced.org
sydonia@cnuced.org
ASYCUDA/SYDONIA Customs System Launched In Cameroon -
11/01/07 Since the beginning of January 2007 a new automated Customs system
has been launched in Douala. The Automated SYstem for CUstoms DAta [ASYCUDA]
/ SYstème
DOuaNIer Automatisé [SYDONIA] has replaced the former PAGODE system.
Please click
here* for a full presentation covering the SYDONIA system or
refer to www.asycuda.org. (*Please note this is a sizeable file, please allow upto
3
minutes for download.)
Contacts and Links
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Douala Port Authority / Port Autonome de Douala (PAD)
Centre des Affaires Maritimes
PO Box 4020 Douala
Tel: (+237) 3 420133 / 3427322
Fax: (+237) 3 426797 / 3421190
Chambre de Commerce d'Industrie et des Mines du Cameroun
Place du Government
B.P. 4011,
Douala Tel: (+ 237) 3 422888
La Direction Générale du CNCC [Cameroon
National Shippers’ Council]
Sise
au Centre des Affaires Maritimes
Bonanjo Tel: (+237) 343 67 67 Fax:
(+237) 343 70 17
Web: www.cncc-cam.org
E-mail: info@cncc-cam.org
Responsible for: Bordereau Electronique de Suivi des Cargaisons [BESC] or Electronic
Cargo Tracking Note