Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo - 2.1.1 Democratic Republic of Congo Port of Matadi
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Port Overview 

The Matadi Port managed by SCTP (Société Commerciale des Transports et des Ports) is located on the left bank of the Congo River and 150 km upstream from the Atlantic Ocean. The port is 1,610 m long and fitted with 11 quays. Containers, general cargo and bulk are the main vessel types here. Matadi is the main import/export gateway of the West. 

Port Location and Contact 

Country 

Democratic Republic of Congo  

Province or District 

Kongo Central 

Nearest Town or City with Distance from Port 

Matadi

Port's Complete Name 

Port International de Matadi 

Latitude 

-5.826111 

Longitude 

13.46917 

Managing Company or Port Authority 

 

SCTP (Société Commerciale des Transports et des Ports)

Management Contact Person 

Directeur Technique : Daniel BULUNGIDI  
+ 243 998 126 158 kabulungidi@gmail.com 

Délégué Commercial : Olivier MBU TSHIBUMGU 
+ 243 852 418 723 

Nearest Airport and Airlines with Frequent International Arrivals/Departures 

n/a 

Port Picture 

image-20230705092944-35View of the Port of Matadi from the road to Boma 


image-20230705093645-92

 

 

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Description and Contacts of Key Companies 

Most of the companies operating at SCTP Matadi Port are forwarding agents (E.g.GTM, Connexafrica, Amicongo) and trucking companies (e.g. NRJ, Afritrans, Sotraco). 
 
CMA-CGM is the main shipping company serving the SCTP Matadi Port. 
 
For more information on port contacts, please see the following link: 4.4 Port and Waterways Company Contact List and 4.8 Transporters Contact List.  

Port Performance 

SCTP Matadi Port is not deep enough to handle large vessels therefore the cargo needs to be transferred to feeder ships at neighboring ports. With the opening of the modern private MGT Matadi Port in 2016, the competitiveness of SCTP Matadi’s port declined. In 2022 the port captured 25% of the freight traffic.  

Seasonal Constraints 

 

Occurs 

Time Frame 

Rainy Season 

Yes 

From October to May 

Major Import Campaigns 

No 

n/a 

 

Handling Figures for 2021 

Vessel Calls 

243 

Container Traffic (TEUs) 

58,943 

 

Handling Figures Bulk and Break Bulk for 2021 

Bulk (mt) 

1,724,017 

Break bulk (mt) 

1,724,017 

Berthing Specifications 

Type of Berth 

Quantity 

Length 

(m) 

Maximum 

Draft (m) 

Comments 

Conventional 

626 

8  

Berths #1 and #2 are under rehabilitation   
Only #3 and #4 are in service 

Container 

524 

Berths #5, #6 & #7 

General and Mix  

460 

Berths #8, #9 & #10 

Silo Berth 

n/a 

n/a 

Berth #11 dedicated to the flour milling company MIDEMA  

Berthing Tugs 

Water Barges 

75 

n/a 

 

General Cargo Handling Berths 

Cargo Type 

Berth Identification 

Imports - Bagged Cargo 

Berths #3 and #4 

Exports - Bagged Cargo 

Imports and Exports - RoRo 

n/a 

Other Imports 

Berths from #5 to #10 

Port Handling Equipment 

Port handling equipment is managed by SCTP, however, many of the equipment is damaged, broken or outdated such as dock cranes with a maximum capacity of six tons. It forms a serious limitation to handling activities and attracting new customers. Moreover, the SCTP Matadi Port has limited financial means to purchase spare parts and perform regular maintenance.   

Equipment 

Available 

 

Total Quantity and Capacity Available 

Comments on Current Condition and Actual Usage 

Dockside Crane 

Yes 

28, lifting 3 to 6 tons 

Only 4 in service 

Container Gantries 

Yes 

In service  

Mobile Cranes 

No 

 

 

Reach stacker 

Yes 

13 (45 tons capacity each) 

Only 4 in service 

RoRo Tugmaster (with Trailer) 

No 

 

 

Grain Elevator w/Bagging Machines 

Yes 

Available at Berth #11 and dedicated to the flour milling company MIDEMA 

 

Transtainer 

Yes 

Out of service, needs to be repaired  

Forklifts 

Yes 

27, lifting 2 to 5 tons 

Only 7 in service 

Container Facilities  

Facilities 

20 ft 

40 ft 

Container Facilities Available 

Yes 

Yes 

Container Freight Station (CFS) 

Yes 

Yes 

Refrigerated Container Stations 

Yes 

Yes 

Other Capacity Details 

Container yard area with a capacity of 4,700 TEUs in 4 TIR 

Daily Take Off Capacity  
(Containers per Hour)  

6 containers per hour 

Number of Reefer Stations  
(Connection Points) 

60 units x 2 

Emergency Take-off Capacity  

n/a 

Off take Capacity of Gang Shift  
(Containers per Shift)  

n/a 

image-20230705092944-72Container yard area

image-20230705092944-74

Reefer yard area

Customs Guidance

The DGDA office (Direction Générale des Douanes et Accises) is open from Monday to Saturday (8:00-18:00). The port is equipped with a cargo mobile scanner provided by their partner AUFS (Africa Union Financial Services) and the device has a capacity to screen one hundred fifty containers per hour. 
The OCC (Office Congolais de Contrôle), DGM (Direction Générale de Migration) and PNHF/ SQAV – (Programme National de l'Hygiène aux Frontières / Service de Quarantaine Animale et Végétale)    are also represented at the port. 

image-20230705092944-76

Cargo mobile scanner

 

For more information on customs in Democratic Republic of Congo, please see the following link:

1.3 Customs Information.   

Terminal Information 

Multipurpose terminal 

The SCTP Matadi Port is a multipurpose terminal allowing the handling of containers, bulk and bagging cargo.  
 

Grain and bulk handling 

Grain and bulk handling are performed at Berth #11 by the flour milling company Minoterie de Matadi (MIDEMA). The company is renting the berth to the SCTP Matadi Port and owns its handling equipment and materials (e.g. dock cranes).

image-20230705092944-79

Main storage terminal 

Storage Type 

Number of Storage Facilities 

Location  

Total Area (m²) 

Bagged Cargo 

4 (Warehouse A-B-C-D) 

Berths #1 to #4 

17 000 m² 

Open yard area  

Yard of warehouse A-B-C 

15 000 m² 

Containers 

Open yard area 

Berths #5 to #7 

60 000 m² 

General Cargo 

3 (two floors per warehouse) 

Berths #8 to #10 

46 000 m² 

Stevedoring 

Stevedoring activities are only provided by SCTP Matadi Port.

They work in three shifts: 

  • from 06:30 to 14:30 

  • from 14:30 to 22:30 

  • from 22:30 to 06:30 

Each shift has an average of 30-50 daily workers with a supervisor. The salary is US$ 4 per shift and they are paid after twenty-two working days. 

Hinterland Information 

The port is connected with Kinshasa via a 355 km paved road (Route National #1) that is in a good condition (9 -11 hours by car). However, as there is only a single road exiting from the city to the port, the city of Matadi is congested. furthermore, Kinshasa – Matadi is a two-lane road with heavy traffic due to the high number of trucks. Accidents often occur which can lead to roads being blocked in both directions for several hours. 

The 365 kilometers Matadi – Kinshasa railway has not been operational for a few years and requires major rehabilitation. Dispatching containers by train could be a solution to reduce road congestion and can be supported by handling operations as the container terminal is already fitted with tracks. Currently, a south Africa company ARSS (African Rolling Stock Solution) is operating from the SCTP Matadi Port terminal to deliver coal to the surrounding cement plants in the Kongo Central (E.g. CIMKO, PPC, CICO).  
image-20230705092944-89

Port Security 

Security 

ISPS Compliant 

Yes 

Current ISPS Level  
(Level 1 = Normal, Level 2 = Heightened, Level 3 = Exceptional) 

Police Boats 

Yes 

Fire Engines 

Yes 

image-20230705092944-91

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