PORT GUIDE · FOR OFFICERS, MASTERS AND SHORE TEAMS
Douala
Pilot
updated Apr 2017- Douala pilot boarding place Pilot boards03°54.2′N 009°32.1′E
Pilotage is compulsory for all vessels of 200GT and over. Request for pilot should be sent 24 hours prior to arrival at B9 Base Lightbuoy (pilot boarding position), quoting (in metres) draught and LOA. It has been reported that the pilot may request to embark or disembark in the vicinity of B22/B23 Lightbuoys.
Key data
updated Mar 2022Size limits
LOA 268.8m, beam 37.4m, draught 8.5m, 66,614DWT.
Water density
1012.
Load line zone
Tropical.
Tides
Springs 2.0m, neaps 1.1m.
Max draft per terminal
| Terminal | Max draught | Max LOA | Berths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonaberi Cement Plant | 8.50 m | 200 m | 1 |
| Douala International Container Terminal (DIT) | 8.50 m | 269 m | 3 |
| Douala Port | 8.50 m | 266 m | 14 |
| Bonaberi LPG /Bitumen Terminal | 8.50 m | 156 m | 1 |
| Dangote Cement Terminal | — | 190 m | 1 |
Deepest first. The draught is the largest any of the terminal's berths states; a dash means the source gives none.
Approach
updated Mar 2022Anchorages
May be obtained off the bar of Estuaire du Cameroun, out of the strength of the tidal streams in a depth of 11.0m. A vessel may also anchor off the coast but never in depths of less than 12.8m, when heavier may cause the vessel to ride very uneasily.
Ships of medium tonnage can anchor in the river in the approaches to the port.
Restrictions
Care should be taken due to the presence of driftwood throughout the river.
Bridge: Wouri Bridge, with a vertical clearance of about 5.0m,0 spans the river between a point N of Douala and Bonaberi close W.
Speed: Maximum speed in Wouri Channel is 14kts. A lesser speed may be necessary to prevent a vessel's wash from causing erosion to the banks.
Tugs
There are four tugs available with open sea capability. These are compulsory for vessels over 600GT.
Charts and publications
BA 1456, 1387, 3118. Admiralty Pilot NP2, NP286(8).
Reporting before arrival
updated Apr 2017ETA and pre-arrival notices
ETA should be sent 24 hours prior to arrival at B9 Base Lightbuoy, including (in metres) LOA and draught.
Communications
VHF: Port and Pilots: Ch 16, 12, 14.
Harbour Master: Tel: +237 342 1333.
All vessels are required to maintain a continuous listening watch on Ch 16 when at the waiting anchorage and when transiting the approach channel.
Documents
All documents are to be signed and stamped.
Health
Ship Sanitation Control Certificate and Exemption Certificates can be renewed.
Customs and immigration
Required on arrival.
Flags
National flag while at the port.
Notices and regulations
Port regulations are available via the agent.
Vessels may only enter the port at HW and berthing is always made head to the tidal stream.
Berthing can be carried out day and night but can be difficult at the NE end of the waterfront where the channel is narrow.
For vessels berthed port side-to, departure can be made at any time depending on draught and depths available in the channel. Vessels berthed starboard side-to should arrange to depart on the early or late ingoing stream, to facilitate turning in the river.
Inspections
ISPS
ISPS Designated Authority: Ministere des Transports, Direction de la Marine Merchande.
Address: BP 416, Douala, Cameroon.
Tel: +237 420308, Fax: +237 428956.
For further ISPS information see IMO website http://www.imo.org
ISPS Compliance: The US Coast Guard has reported that vessels arriving at US ports from ports in the Cameroon, with the exception of Ebome Marine Terminal, Quai GETMA facility, and SONARA Terminal, will be subject to increased attention and are more likely to be boarded and inspected due to their country's failure to maintain effective anti terrorism measures.
Port services
updated Mar 2022Repairs
Repairs are carried out by the Cameroon Industrial Shipyard (CNIC), which has a workshop in the port of Douala, equipped with high-performance machine tools.
Bunkers, water and stores
Fresh water: Available.
Bunkering: Available.
Stores: Available.
Medical
Laquintinie General Hospital, 2km.
Transport
Nearest airport: Douala, 3km.
Nearest railway: Douala, 4km.
Airport facilities: Immigration facilities.
Working hours
There are shifts worked, 0700-1700hrs and 1700-0700hrs.
Overtime: As from 1800hrs.
About Douala
updated Mar 2022Where it is
Douala/Bonaberi is situated 24km from the sea on the banks of the River Wouri.
The port
Douala occupies the SE river bank and Bonaberi (Sub-Port) the NW bank, a bridge 1,800m in length connects the two towns. The main exports are timber, aluminium, coffee, bananas, cocoa and cotton. Imports consist of fuel, cereals, chemicals, alumina, building equipment and machinery.
Traffic
Approx 11,800,000t of cargo, 380,000TEU and 3,300 vessels handled annually.
Questions about Douala
Where does the pilot board at Douala?
The pilot boards at Douala pilot boarding place, 03°54.2′N 009°32.1′E.
What time zone is Douala in?
Local time at Douala is UTC+1. No summer time.
What is the maximum draft at Douala?
The deepest berth listed is at Bonaberi Cement Plant: 8.50 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.
What is the water density at Douala?
1012.
Which load line zone is Douala in?
Tropical.
What is the UN/LOCODE of Douala?
The UN/LOCODE of Douala is CMDLA.
Tips from seafarers
What crews who called at Douala say: pilot boarding, the agent's papers, inspections, shore leave. Each tip is shown with the writer's rank and ship type, and an AI summary sits on top once there are three or more.
A planning aid, not for navigation. These facts come from public sources and each section shows how old it is. Check with the port, your agent, your ENCs and official publications. Spotted something wrong? Tell us on the feedback board.