The Port Authority of Douala (PAD) has announced an overhaul of pre-declaration procedures for cargo arriving by sea. The goal: cut waiting times on the apron and speed up port exits. Here is an overview of the changes and what they mean for you.

What is changing

  • Mandatory pre-declaration 48 hours before vessel arrival (instead of the current 24 hours).
  • Full digitization of bills of lading and certificates of origin via the SYDONIA portal.
  • Pre-payment of part of the port fees before vessel arrival to speed up processing.
Container terminal at the Port of Douala

Why this matters for you

Without a compliant pre-declaration, your container can stay stuck for 3 to 7 additional days on the apron, with warehousing fees stacking up (up to 50,000 FCFA per day for a 20' container).

How to comply

  1. Centralize the documents as soon as cargo is loaded at origin — bill of lading, commercial invoice, certificate of origin.
  2. Work with a SYDONIA-connected freight forwarder that can file the pre-declaration on your behalf.
  3. Open a pre-payment account with the PAD for port fees.
Preparing a customs pre-declaration in Douala

Our role

ALC is connected in real time to the SYDONIA portal. As soon as your cargo leaves the port of origin, we prepare your pre-declaration and file the required documents. Result: an average 48-hour faster release compared to operations without anticipated pre-declaration.

Let's talk about your next clearance →