Madagascar
Madagascar - 2.5 Waterways Assessment
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Introduction  

Madagascar has no inland waterways for transport of goods and people, on a large scale. 

The “Canal des Pangalanes”, running along the East Coast, is currently being rebuilt by the APMF(Agence Portuaire Maritime et Fluviale de Madagascar). 

In the same time, the APMF is rebuilding the ports of Manakara and Mananjary. (6 month projects, expected end of works is August 2023). 

As the only means of access to basic services for the riparian population, the canal continues to be used for the transport of products and people by artisanal canoes and rafts to the main centres of the area. 

River navigation by traditional canoeing and craft units (kanota, laka), ensures the circulation of local products, population and tourists along the rivers of the West Coast: Tsiribihina in Miandrivazo and Sofia in Port Bergé, Betsiboka in Marovoay . 

Canal des Pangalanes 

In March 2023, 432 km were ready for navigation. The APMF is planning to rebuilt 630 km at the end of 2024. 

 

image-20231020110832-4

 

The Pangalanes Chanel runs along the East coast from Toamasina (North) to Farafangana (South) over 630 km. Its construction, from 1896 to 1904, was meant to facilitate transport of goods, as coastal navigation was considered too dangerous. 

After the colonial era, its maintenance was not pursued and the channel, dug in the sand, collapsed regularly. The waterway then quickly found itself invaded by large water lilies, hyacinths of water, covering part of its surface and making laborious the progress of the boats. It sank for 20 years in oblivion, its bridges and railways were left to the abandonment.  

Main problems nowadays: 

  • Some stretches blocked by sand 

  • Hyacinth invasion 

For the cargo, transporters use transport there goods to Mahanoro by 20 or 30 tons trucks and then transfer on 30 tons boats to reach Nosy Varika and Mananjary. 

 Tamatave to Mahanoro by truck: around 8 hours 

 Mahanoro to Mananjary with a 30 tons boat: 3 days 

image-20231020110832-5

 

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Company Information 

From Tamatve to Mahanoro, the boats cannot transport more than 10 tons because of the depth of the channel. 

Tamatave APMF office has registered 60 owners using there port but there is no figures for the places. 

From Mahanoro to Manajary, the situation is different; boats up to 30 tons can navigate while both towns are accessible by trucks. 

The Manjanjay wholesale suppliers use it to transport their commodities and some of them could be able to facilitate transport for NGOs. 

Passenger Carrying Capacity 

 

Mickael MAC 

Alixia SIOUKING 

 MAC 

Arcadius WAI 

Number of 

Passenger ships 

< 20 passengers 

  

 

2  

Number of 

Passenger ships 

< 50 passengers 

Number of 

Passenger ships 

< 100 passengers 

Number of 

Passenger ships 

>100 passengers 

  

Capacité de transport de passagers 

 

Mickael MAC 

Alixia SIOUKING 

 MAC 

Arcadius WAI 

Bateaux 

Nombre de bateaux 

Tonnage / Volume 

Capacité de charge (mt / m3) 

5 x 30 t 

1 x 20 t 

1 x 25 t 

1 x 30 t 

1 x 20 t 

2 x 25 t 

3 x 30 t 

Barges 

Nombre de Barges 

Tonnage / Volume 

Capacité de charge (mt / m3) 

N/A 

N/A 

N/A 

Remorqueurs 

Nombre de remorqueurs 

                0 

Tonnage / Volume 

Capacité de charge (mt / m3) 

N/A 

N/A 

N/A 

  

 

Additional information 

Name 

Company 

Phone 

Mail 

Type of vehicle 

Mickael MAC 

0324080438 

mickael.mac8@gmail.com 

  

. 2 trucks (15 and 30t) for Tamatave to Mahanoro 

. 1 truck 5t in Mananjary 

. 5 x 30t boats from Mahanoro to Mananjary 

Alixia SIOUKING MAC 

Magasin central 

0340113565 

alxiamac@yahoo.fr 

  

. 9 trucks: 5 x 30t and 4 x 5t 

. 3 boats: 20t, 25t and 30t 

Arcadius WAI 

0320509313 

magasincentral@gmail.com 

  

. 7 trucks : 3x30t, 1x15t, 3x5t 

. 6 boats: 3x30t, 2x25t, 1x20t 

  

 

Travel Time Matrix 

These time information are an average, for the passenger and 10 tons cargo boats: 1 day can be in between 7 to 10 hours, depending on the engine. 

 

Travel Time from Main port to other major Ports on boat   

 

 Manangareza 

Ringaringa 

Ambila Lemaintso 

Mahanoro 

Nosy Varika 

Ambavan’ 

Isahavato 

Mananjary 

Manangareza 

  

9 hours 

1 day 

2 days 

3 days 

3 days 

4 days 

Ringaringa 

9  hours 

 

Ambila Lemaintso 

1 day 

1 day 

 

1 day 

2 days 

2 days 

3 days 

Mahanoro 

2 days 

2 days 

1 day 

 

1 day 

1 day 

2 days 

Nosy Varika 

3 days 

3 days 

2 days 

1 day 

 

8  hours 

1 day 

Ambavan’ 

Isahavato 

3 days 

3 days 

2 days 

1 day 

8  hours 

 

1 day 

Mananjary 

4 days 

4 days 

3 days 

2 days 

1 day 

1 day 

 

 As an additional information, the time to reach Mananjary from Mahanoro with a 30 tons boat is 3 days.

 

Key Routes 

Key Route Information 

Domestic / International 

 

From: Manangareza 

To: Ringaringa 

From: Manangareza 

To: Mahanoro 

From:  Mahanoro 

To: Mananjary 

Distance total (km) 

41 

227 

200 

Width (m) 

max : 170 
Min : 6 

Max : 220 
Min : 5 

Max : 145 
Min : 5 

River flow 

(m³ / second) 

Between 120 and 150 m3 /s 

Between 120 and 150 m3 /s 

Between 120 and 150 m3 /s 

Seasonal effects 

Safety concerns during the rainy season / cyclones 

Maximum size of boats 

 

10 x 2 m 

10 x 2 m 

10 x 2 m 

Type of traffic 

Cargo , Passengers 

Cargo and Passengers 

Cargo and Passengers 

Cargo and Passengers 

Security Concerns issue 

No 

Yes 

No 

Main ports 

Manangareza / Ringringa 

Manangareza / Mahanoro 

Mahanoro / Mananjary 

  

Port Information 

Key Port Information 

 

Port Fluvial Manangareza 

Port Fluvial de Mahanoro 

Port Fluvial de Mananjary 

Location 

Toamasina 

Mahanoro 

Mananjary 

Contact Information 

Mr Hasimbola 

0321125874 

Mr Roland 

0321125811 

Mr Edgard 

034 11 430 38 

Connections with Other 

Transport Means 

 

- Road National 2 (to Tamatave or Antananarivo) 

-Air: Small domestic airport (private flights only) 

-Road: Secundary road up to Antsampanana (20t trucks max), then road National 2 (to Tamatave or Antananarivo) 

-Air: Small domestic airport (private flights only) 

-Road: Road National 25 to Ambohimaha, then connection with the road national 7 (to Fianarantsoa or Antananarivo) 

-Air: Small domestic airport (private flights only) 

Storage Capacity (m2 and m3) 

None 

None, former warehouses were broken by a cyclone. 

1 warehouse of 200  m2 at the port level 

Equipment  

None 

None 

None 

Customs Clearance Available  

 

None 

None 

None 

Other comments 

Port performance: 

Around 10 boats per day 

Around 150passengers per day 

Cargo: 

The average per month is : 

-Received 150 tons 

-Sent 2000 tons 

Port performance: 

Around 12 boats per day 

Around 200 passengers per day 

Cargo: 

The average per month is : 

-Received 200 tons 

-Sent 2500 tons 

Port performance: 

Around 15 boat touch per day 

Around 150 passengers per day 

Cargo: 

The average per month is: 

-Received 1000 tons 

-Sent 200 tons 

  

Disclaimer: Inclusion of company information in the LCA does not imply any business relationship between the supplier and WFP / Logistics Cluster, and is used solely as a determinant of services, and capacities.  

Please note: WFP / Logistics Cluster maintain complete impartiality and are not in a position to endorse, comment on any company's suitability as a reputable service provider. 

 

 

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