Overview of vessel waiting times in main african ports

Legend : 🟢 Low (0-2 days) | 🟠 Medium (3-5 days) | 🔴 High (+5 days) 

Last update: July 15th 2026 

Operational Highlights :

• Douala: The Port of Douala-Bonabéri resumed operations on 14 July after a collision between the bulker MV Sea Honor and the general cargo vessel MV Black Rhino on 12 July. 

• Kenya Revenue Authority Launches New Advance Cargo Declaration System

The Kenya Revenue Authority announced on 14 July the rollout of a new digital Advance Cargo Declaration system for all containerised cargo, scheduled to go live on 3 August 2026. The new system requires all containerised exports destined for Kenya to obtain a reference code through the ACD platform prior to vessel loading.

• Durban

Some deterioration in South African port cluster this week. High reefer plug utilisation — citrus season peak. Landside congestion and inconsistent truck turnaround times. Anti-immigration protest sporadic disruptions. UNTU/SA Cargo CCMA dispute unresolved.

• HMM/ONE MAX First West Africa Calls

SC Houston (Voyage 1001S) departed Algeciras on July 7. With an ETA at Dakar of July 19, four days from now, and Tema around July 22–23, HMM is now days away from its inaugural West African port calls. The carrier enters during a rather congested West African port environment. The commercial bet is on medium-term volume growth. The inaugural rotations will be an immediate test of schedule reliability on a service entering a notoriously volatile corridor. 

Disclaimer: This data is provided for general informational purposes only and is subject to change without notice. Port waiting times are estimates based on current market conditions as of the mentioned update day above, and can be influenced by weather, terminal productivity, and local labor conditions. AMS PORTS AND LOGISTICS assumes no liability for any operational or financial decisions made based on this information. For time-sensitive cargo, please consult with your shipping line or local port authority.