The port of Dakar is a deep water port, at the crossroads of the main sea routes The West coast of Africa.

It has an exceptional geographical position (the most advanced point of the West African coast) at the intersection of the routes linking Europe to South America, and North America to South Africa.

Its geographical location lies on latitude 14 ° 40'north and longitude 17 ° 25' West.

Its tide levels vary from 0.20  to 1.90 m; its turning  circle is 500 m in diameter; with dredged channel at -13 m inside and at -13.5 m outside. The channel is  250 m wide and perfectly marked for easy access to the inner waterway.

The Port of Dakar offers:

• a stable outer harbor protected from swell and waves by the island of Gorée, a Breakwater in the South East,  and the tip of Cap Manual;
• direct access at any tidal time,
• an exceptional inner waterway and a ten (10) kilometer-long quay line that can accommodate different classes of vessels.

The Port of Dakar is an international port of transit, and a natural gate to Mali, with the possibility of serving Niger and Burkina Faso.

The port infrastructure 

It is divided into two distinct trade zones (South and North) separated by a military zone, stores, ship repair workshops and a fishing port.

The North Zone

The North Zone consists of 4 moles (4, 5, 8, 9), in addition to the North Pier and the Container Terminal, with four levels ranging from -9 to -13 meters.

The Nord area also has specific facilities for liquid bulk (refined hydrocarbons, oil and wine) and solid bulk (phosphates, rare metals, clinker, coal, wheat, rice).

The Zone comprises :

• The Bulk Terminal

With its 700m dock line, the Senegal Bulk Terminal (TVS) is destined for heavy non-food traffic (mainly minerals, fertilizers and cements). It is equipped with two 150-tonne Liebher cranes, 15 trucks for transfer between the dock and terminal storage areas, two ship conveyors / loaders, 5 forklifts, 7 loaders, 2 weighbridges, 2 dust collecting hoppers, 3 bagging stations, small equipment (diving gear, shovels), a 9 ha storage area.

The terminal is operated by NECOTRANS.

• The Container Terminal

The Container Terminal in the North Zone of the Port of Dakar covers an area of ​​24 ha; it has a quay line of about 700 m with three berths between 12 to 13 m. Modern equipment is used for handling,. It is comprised of four docks (including two Panamax posts), four 100-ton Gottwald cranes on wheels, ten gantry cranes, 15 reach-stackers, and 400 refrigerated outlets.

The annual traffic of about 300,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent unit), which is constantly increasing. This offers excellent prospects for DP WORLD, the terminal operator.

• The Hydrocarbon Zone

The geographical position of Dakar makes the Port a preferred bunkering point for cargo ships.

The Zone is comprises an oil wharf (Mole 9) and North Pier.

The wharf has two stations with 235m and 267m linear lines for a draft of -12m compared to the hydro zero reference scale, with a possibility to connect to the Channel with homogenization of the bottom without touching the sea floor.

This area has received substantial funding for a complete overhaul. Today, it is operated partly by SEA INVEST (TERMINAL PETROLIER DE DAKAR).

The South Zone

It is composed of 3 moles (1, 2 and 3) connected by bank docks. Permitted drafts vary from -8.5 to -10m.

The South Zone handles mostly general merchandise and a portion of container traffic (40%).

It has 12 general cargo and 2 tugboat and starboard substations.

This area also includes specialized facilities:

• Mole 3,

intended for Malian traffic as a priority, under the provisions of the agreements signed between Mali, a landlocked country, and Senegal. It has two berths.

• The Ro/Ro Terminal or Mole 2 –

As the gateway to Africa, Dakar takes up the challenge of specialization by putting into service a terminal dedicated to ro/ro traffic.

The 8-hectare infrastructure with a 700 m quay line meets the requirements of traffic in terms of safety and accessibility. Eventually, Dakar will be handle vehicle imports for the neighboring countries.

With its excellent geographical position, PAD will play a leading role in the transshipment of vehicles from the Americas to the countries of the Atlantic coast of Africa.

• The Dakar International Maritime Station (GMID)

Beyond its main mission of welcoming passengers, GMID, with its original architecture, aims to be  a tourist monument, a site to be discovered, open to the public, and used for ceremonies and major events. It is a modern infrastructure, unique in Africa south of the Sahara, capable of accommodating hundreds of passengers on domestic voyages, African coastal and cruising traffic.

The fishing port comprises:

• a 200,000 m2 usable area and a 2km quay line with depths of 6 to 10 m;
• about ten berths with nearly 60 water outlets;
• industrial units for processing fish, freezing seafood products, ice-making plants and refrigerated warehouses;
• multiple services, including bunkering, and food supplies;
• 2 docking labor offices offering round the clock services;
• One of the largest shipyards in West Africa, with modern equipment for repairs and maintenance.

DAKARNAVE Naval Repair Yard

The Port of Dakar has the largest shipyard on the West African coast: DAKARNAVE. It offers a modern repair area with modern facilities and quality services.

The Distribution Platform

The platform comprises a warehouse area, offices for wholesalers, freight forwarders and customs, roads and solid land. There is also parking lot for large carriers and another for vans.

The port of Dakar enriches its range of services by positioning itself on the logistical chain at the sub-regional level.

Improved transshipment facilities, reduced customs clearance times, the productivity of handling operations, and the establishment of new logistics operators are all assets to develop the Dakar hub.