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.

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.

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 →