CMDLA Port Code Lookup

Port Code Lookup

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Total 1 ports of CMDLA

CMDLA Douala Port
Douala Port is the seaport of Douala, in the city of Doualain Cameroon. Overseas routes include Africa, Port code is CMDLA.

Show details

Port Code

CMDLA

Name

Douala

Country / Region

Cameroon

City

Douala

Sea Routes

Africa

Type

Latitude

4.0462475

Longitude

9.7031090

Est. Unit Price

$220/m³ Book Now

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CMDLA · Douala, Cameroon

Port Overview

Douala Port, UN/LOCODE CMDLA, is Cameroon’s principal maritime gateway and a river-estuary seaport on the Wouri River, approximately 24 km upstream from the estuary. It handles a substantial share of Cameroon’s international trade and supports containerized, general, timber, petroleum-related, refrigerated, roll-on/roll-off and other project or bulk cargo flows. For exporters and importers, the port should be planned as a river-access gateway where berth availability, marine conditions, terminal instructions, customs formalities and inland road coordination can affect the final delivery schedule.

Item	Reference information
Port code	CMDLA
Location	Douala, Cameroon; Wouri River estuary area
Coordinates	4.0462475° N, 9.7031090° E
Port type	Maritime river-estuary port serving national and regional cargo flows

Key Highlights

National gateway: CMDLA is the principal seaport for Cameroon’s international merchandise trade.
Mixed-cargo profile: Containerized freight moves alongside timber, gasoline, bauxite, bananas, general cargo and fishing-related activity.
River access considerations: The upstream Wouri location makes marine and terminal planning especially important for draft, berth and vessel-schedule confirmation.
Storage options: The supplied port description identifies covered warehouses, open storage, timber stacking yards and chilled/refrigerated storage.
Inland delivery focus: Final-mile planning should be confirmed early, particularly for full containers, refrigerated cargo, abnormal loads and cargo requiring inspection.

Facilities & Services

Quays and berthsThe supplied port record describes 11 cargo berths, approximately 2,300 m of quay and container berths totaling about 500 m. Current berth assignment and operating restrictions require confirmation before booking.

Container handlingThe container terminal description includes a stacking area for approximately 5,000 full TEUs. Equipment availability, reefer plug status and actual yard acceptance should be checked for each sailing.

General cargo and warehousingNine berths are described as serving general cargo, supported by approximately 58,000 m² of warehouse space and about 380,000 m² of open storage.

Timber and project cargoThe supplied data identifies approximately 200,000 m² of timber stacking yards, relevant to timber, machinery, steel and other cargo requiring open-yard handling.

Refrigerated cargoApproximately 8,000 m² of chilled and refrigerated storage is identified in the port description. Reefer plug-in, power, monitoring and inspection arrangements must be confirmed before dispatch.

Ro-ro capabilityThe terminal description allocates space for roll-on/roll-off cargo. Ramp suitability, vehicle dimensions, lashing requirements and acceptance procedures should be obtained for the specific shipment.

Routes & Transit Times

Trade direction: International cargo to Cameroon is commonly routed through CMDLA using the carrier’s published network and, where applicable, a transshipment hub. The exact routing depends on origin, carrier allocation, equipment and sailing availability.
Containerized cargo: Transit planning should include origin cut-off, transshipment exposure, port discharge, customs release and inland delivery rather than relying only on the ocean leg.
Breakbulk and project cargo: Heavy-lift, out-of-gauge and ro-ro shipments require vessel acceptance, berth suitability, lifting or ramp arrangements and a delivery survey before a firm schedule is issued.
Schedule variables: River approach conditions, berth congestion, weather, vessel rotation changes, documentation discrepancies, customs inspection and road conditions can extend the end-to-end timeline. Our service team confirms the current carrier schedule and operational cut-offs before booking.

No fixed transit time or direct-service claim is made here. The applicable sailing plan should be quoted against the actual origin, destination, commodity, equipment type and requested delivery point.

Hinterland & Key Cargo

Primary hinterland: Douala is the principal maritime entry and exit point for Cameroon, with inland distribution arranged mainly through road-based connections to commercial and industrial areas.
Regional relevance: The port may also support cargo moving toward neighboring Central African markets, subject to border formalities, corridor conditions, security requirements and the chosen inland carrier.
Export commodities: The supplied port data specifically identifies timber, bananas and bauxite among handled cargoes, in addition to general and containerized exports.
Import commodities: Common planning categories include machinery, consumer goods, industrial materials, vehicles, project cargo, petroleum-related cargo and refrigerated products, subject to commodity-specific acceptance.
Special handling: Timber, temperature-sensitive cargo, dangerous goods and oversized units require early confirmation of storage, handling, inspection, packaging and inland equipment arrangements.

Operations & Compliance

Cut-off control: Shipping instructions, verified gross mass, export customs documents and dangerous-goods paperwork must be submitted within the carrier and terminal cut-offs. These times vary by sailing and should be obtained in writing.
Dangerous goods: Provide the correct UN number, proper shipping name, class, packing group, flash point where applicable, package details and emergency contact. Do not deliver a dangerous-goods container before carrier and terminal acceptance is confirmed.
Customs and inspection: Commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading instructions, permits and commodity-specific certificates should match exactly. A customs or physical inspection can affect release timing and may require accessible cargo presentation.
Inland movement: Confirm container size, axle and road restrictions, empty return location, truck appointment, escort needs, delivery-site access and demurrage responsibility before dispatching equipment.

Shipping Tips

Ask our service team to verify the latest vessel rotation, terminal acceptance, documentation cut-off, equipment release and inland delivery plan before cargo is packed or trucked.
For reefer cargo, submit set point, ventilation, humidity requirements and power expectations in advance; use temperature records and confirm the available reefer handling arrangement.
For timber, machinery and project cargo, provide dimensions, weight distribution, lifting points, packing photographs and center-of-gravity information so the handling plan can be reviewed before booking.
For urgent or high-value cargo, compare the available carrier routing and transshipment options rather than selecting solely on ocean freight. Our team can assess schedule resilience, inspection exposure and inland delivery risk.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is CMDLA a seaport or an inland port?

CMDLA is a maritime port located on the Wouri River estuary area. It serves ocean-going international trade while its river approach and terminal conditions must be considered in vessel and berth planning.

Can every container shipment use the same booking and delivery process?

No. Standard dry containers, reefers, dangerous goods, open-top units and out-of-gauge cargo can have different acceptance, documentation, equipment and inland requirements. Our service team checks the cargo profile before confirming the operating plan.

How should we plan a shipment that may be inspected by customs?

Submit consistent commercial documents, accurate commodity descriptions and all required permits at the start. Allow contingency for document review, physical examination, cargo presentation and any required correction before final delivery is arranged.

Are fixed transit times available for Douala?

A fixed end-to-end time cannot be guaranteed without the origin, destination, carrier routing, equipment and inland delivery point. Our team provides a sailing-specific estimate and identifies transshipment, port and customs contingencies.

What information is needed for oversized or project cargo?

Provide cargo dimensions, gross weight, packing method, lifting points, center of gravity, photographs, required delivery date and final-site restrictions. Vessel, terminal, road equipment and route feasibility should be approved before the booking is finalized.

Data Sources & Provenance

Port code, name, location, coordinates and facility figures in this module are based primarily on the supplied CMDLA port master record. Operational values such as berth assignment, draft acceptance, yard availability, cut-off times, customs procedures, carrier routing and inland conditions are time-sensitive and must be reconfirmed for the specific shipment.

For port-authority-level verification, users may consult the official Port Autonome de Douala domain: pad.cm. The domain is provided for source verification; current operating instructions and commercial quotations remain subject to confirmation by the relevant terminal, carrier, customs authority and our service team.

Data boundary: No fixed freight rate, sailing frequency, direct-service claim, transit-time guarantee, current throughput figure or regulatory approval is inferred where it is not stated in the supplied port data or confirmed by the applicable operational party.