More than 3000 containers outstanding at the Douala Port

Delay in undertaking the formalities and malice are the main causes.

"Our capacity is 14,000 TEU containers (twenty-foot equivalent). Currently we are having over 17 000. There is therefore more than three thousand containers delinquent on our facilities." The figures given by a technical manager of the Douala International Terminal, show that some habits die hard.

At the entrance of the customs office housed in the main building, many notices are displayed on the issue: they mention the number of containers having already spent "more than 90 days" on the terminal, whether import or export.

The reporter of CT noted that the import, destination Cameroon of "drugs, meat, charcuterie" and other "merchandise" are thus blocked. In export, it is cotton balls, sawn wood or gum arabic, etc. that are slow to leave the country. Other notices inform about Chad and RCA destinations. A question naturally comes to mind: why such a pile of containers?

On the port area, many major importers, accused by example, under this part of business, "go later for formalities."

"Instead of undertaking procedures as soon as their goods are shipped, they wait. But if you have to wait all the time that the ships dock before starting the formalities, it is clear that the procedures will be lengthened," says our source.

Yet learnt CT, documents such as the Besc (Electronic Bill of cargo tracking) Avi (Import Verification Certificate) or recording of the manifesto can be made well before the arrival of the ship. Operators who take their time in front of the procedure "put the complainants in trouble," notes an employee of the port.

Other reasons exist, holding more than malice. Some importers leave their containers for the auctions to recover them by spending less money. A carrier said to CT as laying Gps on some trucks also takes time.

Would the customs take the blame?

"Customs procedures are not likely to drag," argues a framework at the captaincy who fears rather for the organizers of "fictitious dealings" at work ...

In any case, the concern of the authorities is to stay the course of decongestion. Importers bringing in goods for the holiday season are for example encouraged to report to their ships "climb priority."