Key port information can also be found at: Maritime Database information on Niger Port of Cotonou   

Port Overview

The Port of Cotonou is located in Benin and serves Niger, Nigeria, Togo, and Burkina a part from Benin itself. The port covers 400 thousand square meters, and its commercial quay contains four 155-meter berths, two 180-meter berths, one 220-meter berth for container vessels, and one berth for roll-on/roll-off cargoes. Warehouses cover 57 thousand square meters and include a 65-thousand square meter container depot and a free zone for Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso.

Work was undertaken in 2011 to add to berths of total 550 meters with a depth of 13.5 meters. The old berths will also be dug out to attain 13.5 meters.

Port website: http://www.portdecotonou.com/

Port Picture

Description and Contacts of Key Companies

The Cotonou Port Authority is a governmental entity that manages the port. For handling and manual labour SOBEMAP is a state-owned company that maintains monopoly for conventional handling, while Maersk and Bolloré competes in container handling through their subsidiaries COMAN and SMTC. A complete list of port partners, transit companies and more can be consulted at http://www.portdecotonou.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32&Itemid=53&showall=1, where contact details are also provided.  

4.4 Niger Port and Waterways Company Contact List

Port Performance

The port of Cotonou handled 4.1 million metric tonnes in 2006 - import, export and transit. This grew to 6.9 million tonnes in 2009 and have stabilised around that level since. That represents a growth of nearly 70% over 2006, and every year since has seen volumes far above planned or expected volumes. As a consequence port congestion has made its presence felt. The number of vessels calling the port declined, but the vessels calling were larger than before. The same period saw an increase of waiting time for container vessels increase from an average of 16 days to 34.6 days; with a peak of 67.6 days in 2008. The target set by the port is at four days and as such leaves ample room for improvements. On the other hand handling of container vessels have become more efficient and has decreased from two days average to 1.31 days in 2011, with a target set at one day.  Average waiting time for trucks in 2011 was at 27.55 hours against a target of seven hours. The indicator has nevertheless seen steady improvements since 2008 when it was at 104 hours. Custom transit takes on average 2.93 days against a target set by the port of one day; this indicator has seen little evolution. The port of Cotonou has been criticised for being under too much political influence which is recognised be the Association for the Promotion of the port of Cotonou (APPC) who lists the conflict between port and city as the major challenge going forward.

The port of Cotonou has received funds from the Millenium Challenge Corporation to improve the infrastructure of the port. This work was undertaken in 2011 and is to be completed by 2013. This should allow the port to operate more effectively in the coming years. A layout of how the port will look can be seen further below.

Discharge Rates and Terminal Handling Charges

Port fees, which entails tugging, piloting, mooring and port dues will amount to about 5 000 000 XOF. General cargo handling is at about 5 000 XOF per tonne while bulk handling is around 2 500 XOF per tonne. For updates on convential handling charges SOBEMAP can be consulted. Container handling charges are found in the table below and updates can be obtained from COMAN and SMTC.

Berthing Specifications

Berth number 5 is the only berth dedicated for heavy general cargo vessels. The vessel is often lighted at the berth and then shifted towards berth 2, 3 or 4. Two private container terminal operated by SMTC (Bollore) and COMAN (Maersk) operate two shore cranes at quay 6/7-8. Tanker vessels are only allowed to dock and sail in daylight. Draught is calculated on the of basis high tide. Work was undertaken in 2011 to add to berths of total 550 meters with a depth of 13.5 meters. The old berths will also be dug out to attain 13.5 meters. Below is the port layout with the new berths included.

General Cargo Handling Berths

Port Handling Equipment

The port equipment is managed by privately.

COMAN and SMTC handles containers and has suitable equipment that functions adequately. SOBEMAP who monopolises conventional handling is on the other hand criticised for lacking equipment and maintenance and overly relying on manual labour.

Container Facilities

The container storage area measures 91 000 square meters. Benin Terminal, subsidiary of Bolloré is equipped with two gantries. Two further private container terminal operators SMTC (Bolloré) and COMAN (Maersk) has two shore cranes at quay 6/7-8.

Customs Guidance

Customs clearance at the port of Cotonou consists of eight steps, and if the procedure ever runs smoothly, can be completed in roughly seven hours. In practice two to three working days are to be expected. Clearance costs can be up to $750, depending on the size of container, number of trucks and where the cargo has shipped from. Customs officials, at least until recently, have been no strangers to corruption so costs may exceed this amount. In practice most UN agencies and NGO rely on freight forwarders to handle customs clearance.

A custom clearance manual for the port of Cotonou (in french), including transit procedure, can be found at http://www.finances.bj/IMG/pdf/manuel_de_procedure_version_corrigee.pdf. Se also the Customs Information section of the LCA.

1.3 Niger Customs Information

Terminal Information

Multipurpose Terminal

A Ro-Ro berth is available, as well as a modern Ro-Ro terminal operated by Roro Terminal Benin SA. The terminal covers 4.5 hectares and has a capacity of 3 000 vehicles.  

Grain and Bulk Handling

Bulk handling takes place on pier four and five, though the latter is reserved for the private company ORYX/ADDAX. The port has a grain silo with 11 000 tons capacity. Vegetable oil, and petroleum, tanks have a capacity of 43 700 cubic meters. 

Main Storage Terminal

The storage facilities includes over 100 000 m² worth of warehouses, three container terminals – 15 000 m² container park, and paved open space storage covering 60 000 m². Further there is a fish warehouse measuring in at 1 500 m², 43m³of storage tanks and silo tanks with 11 000 tonnes capacity. There are free zone warehouses for Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso.

Stevedoring

Stevedoring was partly opened for competition in 1999, but the state owned company SOBEMAP still maintain monopoly on conventional handling. SMTC and COMAN, under Maersk and Bolloré respectively, has entered in to competition for handling of containers. Container handling has become significantly more effective since the liberation of the market, but conventional handling has deteriorated and handling can sometimes take weeks before completion. SOBEMAP has GETMA-Benin as their privileged partner for handling and transit.

Handling comprises loading and off-loading of ships as well as stocking and transporting the goods within the port.     

Hinterland Information

Items are moved out of port by railway or by trucks. There is no railway in Niger so rail wagons have to be offloaded in Parakou, Benin, which is about half the distance between Cotonou and Niamey. Trucks are often congested at the port, and roads are generally in a bad condition – especially during the wet season.  

Port Security

The port of Cotonou is ISPS compliant with the Direction de la Marin Marchandise charged with assuring conformity. The Port Security Officer is responsible for maintaining security levels. Access to the port is the responsibility of the Service des Formalités et d’Accès (Acces and formalities service) which restricts access to those who are issued permanent badges. Temporary access for 24 hours is granted to visitors who supply ID-papers, photos and a visit card or professional letter. Le Service Police Sécurité et Sûreté (Police service for security and assurance) is the public service who polices the port. They are responsible for the safety of technical installations, personal safety, ship inspection and prevention of theft. The police service is supported by private security enterprises that are contracted directly with the port and supplies guards and patrol the area. Le Service Environment, Accidents et Calamités (Service for the environment, accidents and calamities) handles spilllage, pollution and accidents. They rely on two old fire trucks that are prone to break-downs and often out of play. They will however receive support from the fire brigade of Cotonou in case of fires, but this nonetheless decreases respond time. No boat is available for the service to perform tasks such as rescuing people that have fallen overboard. The service is also said to be undermanned which affects it ability to perform.

Video surveillance is under implementation and a container scanner has supposedly been purchased. The number of thefts at the port fluctuates between 24 and 57 registered cases per year over the last six years.