Key port information can also be found at: Website of the Maritime Database on Port of Matadi

Port Overview

Matadi Port is the most important maritime port of DRC with 90% maritime traffic (not including oil tankers). It has a handling capacity of 2,500,000 metric tons of cargo per year.

Matadi Port has started upgrading its installation according to ISPS code. The port is connected with Kinshasa by railroad.

The port is 1,610 meters long and equipped with 10 quays, this may allow “parking” of ten big ships at the same time.  

Port Picture

Description and Contacts of Key Companies

Most of the companies operating at Matadi Port are customs clearance agents and road transporters.

One of them:

G.T.M.: Alex MUKOLE, Chef d’Agence, +243991002524 / +243998530131 / +243898338920, amukole@gtmdrc.com, alexmukole@yahoo.fr, website: www.gtmdrc.com

4.4 Democratic Republic of Congo Port and Waterways Company Contact List

Port Performance

The Port of Matadi is physically hampered by its handling equipment.  Almost all of the rail mounted shore cranes are not operational and the remaining few functioning cranes are in an extremely fragile condition.  Therefore, vessels wishing to call the port should carry their own cargo gear. The Matadi Port has recently put into service two Gantry cranes of 40T increasing its ability to stack containers and store a total of 6,700 TEUs.

The surrounding terrain at Matadi has limited the draft of vessels. Permissible draft for navigating the Congo River varies from time to time ranging between 19 ft and 22 ft. There are times when the draft on the Congo River has been reduced to 19 ft. / 5.80 meters and should be checked with the port authority in advance. During the rainy season the draft decreases and reaches from 19 ft to 20 ft. This reduction is due to the increase of sand in Mateba Island, which is on the way through Matadi Port. The decrease in the draft of the Congo River is one of the many reasons for the Matadi Port's congestion and results in river traffic suspension and berthing delays. The other reason for congestion is the fact that only 4 vessels can berth at a time in Matadi forcing other vessels to wait at Boma Port until completion of discharge and recharge.

This leads to a long queue at the transhipment port of Pointe Noire in the Republic of Congo. Slowdowns and delays as a result of the long waiting times before arriving at the port of Matadi can last up to 14 days instead of 2-3 days under normal circumstances. There is no formal priority establishment for humanitarian cargo per se. However, due to the very nature of the humanitarian activities, all cargo shipments are subject to preferential treatment at Matadi Port upon provision of all required documentation.

Berthing Specifications

Port of Matadi berthing specifications

The Silo Berth was created by the country’s largest flour milling company, Minoterie de Matadi (Midema) by refurbishing an unused part of the port in order to create an eleventh berth and free up one of the 10 original port berths for other vessels. 

General Cargo Handling Berths

Average quay activity (2014/2015):

Port Handling Equipment

The Matadi Port equipment has been managed by a government funded company called SCTP (Société Générale des Transports et des Ports) since 2010.

Dockside crane, Container gantries and reach stacker are available.

The reefer yard                                                          The silos of Midema, connected to quay 11.

Container Facilities  

Customs Guidance

1.3 Democratic Republic of Congo Customs Information

Terminal Information

Multipurpose Terminal

The Matadi Port terminal is a multipurpose terminal allowing the handling of container, break bulk cargo, bagging and timber logs. 

Grain and Bulk Handling

Grain and Bulk Handling are done at Berth 11 by the flour milling company, Minoterie de Matadi (Midema)

Main Storage Terminal

There are 8 warehouses for conventional cargo with a capacity of 8 to 10,000 T per warehouse.

The container terminal has a capacity of 60,000 m^₂ and 6,200 TEUs.

The General cargo storage yard has a capacity of 40,000 m^_2.

Stevedoring

The Governement owned company SCTP is the only stevedoring company in the Port of Matadi

• ETA for Vessel has to be confirmed 24 hours prior to arrival to allow for gangs of workmen arrangements.
• The Port of Matadi has 3 working shifts which are as follows :
• 1st shift from 06.30 to 14.30 hrs
• 2nd shift from 14.30 to 22.30 hrs
• 3rd shift from 22.30 to 06.30 hrs
• Normal working hours run from 06.30 to 14.30 from Monday to Saturday.
• Overtimes from 14.30 to 06.30 hrs from Monday to Saturday and 24.00 on Sundays and Bank holidays.
• Number of gangs per ship: depends on number of ship’s holds, available winchmen and dockers.
• Working days per week: the port works 24/24.00 hrs (Sundays and Bank holidays included).
• Insufficient trucking capacity prevent bagged cargoes from being transferred from berth to warehouse.
• Private trucks are to be arranged at the cost of $300 per shift of 8 hours to ensure a good rate of discharging. 
• Discharging of bagged cement is subject to prior arrangement by Port services and customs to allow for a direct offload onto trucks. This requires the customs formalities for cement to be completed prior to the arrival of the vessel. Failure to do so may result in the refusal of berth allocation (Source: Clearing agent)

STEVEDORING COSTS:

Hinterland Information

The Matadi Port is connected with Kinshasa by railroad.  A detailed assessment on the railroad can be found in 2.4 Democratic Republic of Congo Railway Assessment. Matadi Port is the terminal of the 366 kmlong railway that links the two towns.

Matadi Port can also be reached by a 355 km paved road linking Kinshasa to Matadi. A detailed assessment of the road can be found in 2.3 Democratic Republic of Congo Road Network.

Port Security