Port Overview

The port of Moroni is under the supervision of the APC (Port Authority of Comoros). Despite the fact that it serves the capital and the most populous island of the Comoros archipelago, the ports of Moroni is the second in terms of attendance and volume. This is due to the shallow draft (5m) at the dock which limits berthing to boats under 70m. Larger vessels must not exceed 150m and must remain in one of the two mooring areas which are 20m deep. Ships that cannot dock at the port unload their goods with their on-board cranes on barges that are then towed to the port. Moroni Terminal is in poor condition and suffers from a lack of investment.

All types of goods pass through the port: vehicles, food, general goods, and construction equipment. Exports are virtually non-existent apart from some cash crops such as cloves and ylang-ylang.

Key port information can also be found at: Maritime Database Information on Port of Moroni

Port Picture

Description and Contacts of Key Companies

Moroni Terminal

Handling of containerized goods or big bags

David SPEE

Director of Operations

+269 369 93 66

David.spee@bolore.com

Collectif de Représentants Maritimes (COREMA)

Handling of goods in bulk and bag

Ahmed MOUSTALI

Manager

+269 332243

moustalliahmed@yahoo.com

Customs

Mr Adam MOEVA

Head of Brigade

+269 3342317

For more information on port contacts, please see the following link: 4.4 Port and Waterways Companies Contact List.

Port Performance

The port of Moroni is divided into two zones, an international scheduled to handle containers and seized big-bags that another regional through which bulk goods transit and which also serves as a boat dock for passengers traveling from / to nearby islands.

The port is undersized for day-to-day operations, international ships are waiting on average 48 hours before they can unload their goods. Due to the low draft, boats over 70 meters cannot dock and must unload their goods on barges with on-board cranes.

In fact, when the weather becomes rainy or there is swell, the operations are stopped while the weather becomes lighter.

The regional wharf is also congested, unloading operations are done by hand and take several days to unload ships from Madagascar or Tanzania. These boats do not usually stay at anchor and moor with each other while waiting for their unloading tower.

In case of emergency, berthing and unloading of ships carrying humanitarian aid will be prioritized.

Discharge Rates and Terminal Handling Charges

Port of Moroni handling rates.

Berthing Specifications

General Cargo Handling Berths

Port Handling Equipment

Handling equipment are managed and owned by the private company Moroni Terminal.

Container Facilities

Customs Guidance

Customs are present on the port and are open from 7:30 to 14:30 (except Sunday) at the exit of the port. If the documents are up to date it is possible to clear a container in the day. If, after 15 days, a person has failed to submit the necessary documents for customs clearance, the customs officers will make financial penalties.

 

For more information on customs in Comoros, please see the following link: 1.3 Customs Information. 

Terminal Information

Multipurpose Terminal

The multipurpose terminal is the small wharf or regional wharf. This pier is used for the handling of all non-containerized goods. There is a 18-meter-wide sloping dock designed for the Ro-Ro, but it is currently out of service because of the shallow draft.

Moroni Terminal shows very little interest in it, the handling of non-containerized goods is provided by COREMA, a group of docker who unload the goods by hand. COREMA has 72 dockers and can rent handling on lifting equipment if necessary. The handling of bagged goods such as rice, sugar, cement, etc. is 3000 KMF / MT.

Grain and Bulk Handling

Not available.

Main Storage Terminal

There are large warehouses managed by the APC within the port, they are usually used for temporary storage pending clearance of goods.

In the event of a health emergency or natural disaster, some of these warehouses could be made available to the humanitarian community.

Stevedoring

Stowage activities are managed by Moroni Terminal for containerized goods or big-bags and by COREMA for bulk goods or bagged goods. Both are private companies.

Hinterland Information

The goods leave the port on the trucks of commercial companies coming to pick up their cargo or with small trucks of 3 to 10 MT rented to private individuals. Any vehicle can access the port, there is no need for special authorization.

Port Security

The port is secured by a fenced perimeter. Security of access and warehouses is the responsibility of the PCA, which has its own security guards. Sécuricom was contracted by Moroni Terminal, which is responsible for the safety of solid land and container storage areas.

As of today, the port of Moroni does not comply with international safety rules, this has an impact on the price of the goods because the boats calling the port must take on more expensive insurance.

Port Overview

The port of Mutsamudu is the only deep-water port in the Union of the Comoros, it is also the one that has the largest transit of goods per year. More than 95% of the goods arrive in containers and are then re-dispatched to the other two islands. This activity represents 64% of the port's activities. Goods destined for the final destination of Mohéli are usually cleared on the spot before being loaded onto smaller vessels.

Exports are marginal, the only products exported are cloves and Ylang-ylang oil.

The port is under the supervision of the public company EPPAM (Public Port Authority Autonomous Port of Mutsamudu) and the company that has the port concession for handling since 2003, is the ASC (Anjouan Stevedoring Company) which is a subsidiary of the Indian Ocean Holding Shipping Group.

Key port information can also be found at: Maritime Database information on Comoros Ports

Port Picture

Description and Contacts of Key Companies

Stevedoring

ASC (Anjouan Stevedoring Companie)

Mr Mounib ELHAD, Operations Manager

+269 332 00 02

Mounib_ops@anjouanstevedoring.com

Customs

Farid ABODO, Chef de Brigade

+269 334 31 12

For more information on port contacts, please see the following link: 4.4 Port and Waterways Companies Contact List.

Port Performance

The port is very rarely congested, there is an occupancy rate of about 20 days a month. The bigger vessels stay on average between 1 and 5 days before leaving, depending on the number of containers they have to load / unload. If several ships arrive at the same time the longest waiting times that have been observed have never exceeded 72 hours.

The port is instructed to prioritize humanitarian vessels in the event of a natural disaster.

Due to an increase in activity, the cargo terminal and the container storage area should be enlarged so that some customs-cleared containers can be dumped in a dedicated area, but the port can absorb the flow of goods for the moment.

Discharge Rates and Terminal Handling Charges

For information on Comoros Port of Mutsamudu discharge rates and terminal handling charges, please see the following documents: 

Port of Mutsamudu Discharge Rates and Terminal Handling Charges

Berthing Specifications

Notes:

1. Berthing (steering, towing and mooring) is managed by the port using 1 tow.
2. There is 1 speedboat for piloting and 4 pilots.
3. Boats over 100 m must be towed while others are only assisted by a pilot.

General Cargo Handling Berths

Port Handling Equipment

Handling equipment is managed and owned by ASC.

Container Facilities

There are three storage areas for containers, a northern area for storing rice, flour and other foodstuffs, an area in the north for storing cement, and an area in the middle for the reefers and containers containing general goods.

Customs Guidance

Customs are present at the exit of the port and are open from 7:30 to 14:30 (except Sunday). If the documents are up to date it is possible to clear a container in the day. Failure to submit the necessary documents for customs clearance after 15 days will be penalized.

For more information on customs in Comoros, please see the following link: 1.3 Customs Information. 

Terminal Information

Multipurpose Terminal

There is only one terminal that is used for all types of commodities. There is a Ro-Ro ramp 20 m wide at the end of the wharf, but the draft is only 3 m because of the silting of the harbor.

Grain and Bulk Handling

Not available

Main Storage Terminal

There is a 2000 m² hangar under the supervision of the ASC. It is used as a shelter for their motorized equipment because of the bad roof condition.

Another store is currently used by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry to store merchandise.

Stevedoring

Stevedoring activities are done by the private company ASC.

Hinterland Information

The goods leave the port on the trucks of commercial companies coming to pick up their cargo or with small trucks of 3 to 10 MT rented to private individuals. Any vehicle can access the port and there is no need for special authorization.

Port Security

The port is secured with concrete walls and security is provided by the Port Authority at the entrances and exits of the port. The gendarmes patrol on the wharves, and the ASC has its security service to guard the storage areas.

Port Overview

The port of Fomboni is the smallest port of the Comoros. He does not receive international regular lines. Although the customs are present at the port, in general the goods are unloaded and cleared at Moroni or Mutsamudu before being reloaded on smaller boats (45m maximum) trading between the islands of the archipelago.

Although it has no commercial relevance, the port of Mohéli is the place where transit almost all the goods of primary need of the island.

Key port information may also be found at: http://www.maritime-database.com

Port Picture

Description and Contacts of Key Companies

Handling

1. Mr Nakithou, Handling Operations Manager, APC (Autorités portuaires des Comores), +269 3528593
2. Mr El KABI (owner of the mobile harbour crane) +269 352 8593, abiamrifils@outlook.com

Customs

Saïd Ahmed ZAKI, Regional Director, +269 3322696, ahmedzakisaid7@gmail.com

For more information on port contacts, please see the following link: 4.4 Port and Waterways Companies Contact List.

Port Performance

Due to its small size, the port can be quickly congested if several ships arrive the same day, but the wait never lasts more than 24 hours. The port has two small docks on which up to 3 boats can dock. In case of emergencies, priority would be given to humanitarian cargo separately if a fuel ship arrives at the same time.

Discharge Rates and Terminal Handling Charges

Prices are in KMF.

Berthing Specifications

General Cargo Handling Berths

Port Handling Equipment

There is only one crane that remains permanently at the port. It does not belong to the APC, it is rented to a private company from Fomboni.

A team of dockers work from 7:30 to 14:30. An additional fee of 7500 KMF is required for each additional shift of 4 hours.

Container Facilities

There are no facilities dedicated to containers, they are generally, loaded directly on a truck on arrival.

Customs Guidance

Customs are present at the gate of the port and are open from 7:30 to 14:30 (except Sunday). If the documents are up to date it is possible to clear a container in the day. Failure to submit the necessary documents for customs clearance after 15 days will be penalized.

Their service can work outside the official hours for an additional fee of 7500 KMF.

 

For more information on customs in Comoros, please see the following link: 1.3 Customs Information. 

Terminal Information

Multipurpose Terminal

There is only one terminal for all types of merchandise. A Ro-Ro ramp 8.5m wide on the West Wharf.

Grain and Bulk Handling

Not available

Main Storage Terminal

There is a warehouse of 400 m² under the supervision of the APC and a warehouse of 100 m² under customs supervision.

Stevedoring

Stevedoring activities are done by the APC.

Hinterland Information

The goods leave the port on the trucks of commercial companies coming to pick up their cargo or with small trucks of 3 to 10 MT rented to private individuals. Any vehicle can access the port and there is no need for special authorization.

Port Security

The port is partially fenced. An APC security team manages the entrance and exit of the port. The gendarmerie is also present on site to intervene in case of threats.