Historic Vessel Arrival at Pointe-Noire
On October 22, the Port of Pointe-Noire welcomed the Maersk Halifax, a 368-meter giant capable of carrying 15,690 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). This call, managed by Congo Terminal, sets a new record for the facility and demonstrates its readiness for ultra-large container vessels.
Arriving from Cape Town, the Danish-flagged vessel docked smoothly after piloting operations that involved tugs, mooring teams, and planners who had worked using a pre-arrival simulation. “Welcoming the Halifax is a collective pride and proof of our adaptability,” stated a Congo Terminal operations manager.
Port sources indicated that drafts reached 15.2 meters during the maneuver, a depth guaranteed by regular dredging campaigns funded under the concession agreement. Operations teams unloaded electronics, frozen poultry, and retail goods destined for the Pointe-Noire hinterland before repositioning empty containers for West African exporters.
Congo Terminal’s Investment Milestones
When Africa Global Logistics won the 30-year concession in 2009, it committed to transforming the port into a regional hub. Since then, over €350 million has been invested in quay extension, yard paving, ship-to-shore cranes, and digital tracking systems.
The infrastructure program lengthened the main berth to 1,500 meters and deepened it to 16 meters, enabling the simultaneous handling of three Panamax vessels or two New Panamax units. The terminal’s annual capacity grew from 350,000 TEUs in 2009 to over 1.3 million TEUs last year.
Investments also targeted human capital. Over 700 employees earned certificates in terminal operations, safety, and heavy equipment maintenance, with many trained at the Pointe-Noire Center of Maritime Excellence established with support from the Ministry of Transport and Maersk Training.
Operational Gains for Shipping Lines
Regular shipping line operators cite shorter turnaround times as a decisive factor for deploying larger vessels on the Congo’s Atlantic corridor. Shared data shows average gross crane productivity rose to 31 moves per hour in 2023, up from 22 moves five years ago, helping reduce fuel costs across services.
Brazzaville freight forwarders report that importers now clear containers in an average of three days, down from a full week before the digital single window’s introduction in 2021. “The system has reduced paperwork and improved tax collection,” explained a customs broker, praising the transparency gains.
Shipping analysts forecast Central African container demand will grow by 5.2% annually until 2026, driven by mining equipment, consumer goods, and diaspora e-commerce flows. Pointe-Noire’s ability to handle vessels over 15,000 TEUs positions it to capture a significant share of this volume.
Strategic Value for Central African Trade
Beyond Congo, the port serves southern Gabon, western Democratic Republic of Congo, and landlocked regions of the Central African Republic. The rail improve