A thorough Port Assessment was undertaken in the second half of 2015 with the friendly support of Capt. Wolf Lampe and Capt. Ferdinand Moehring of BLG LOGISTICS, Bremen, Germany. The information found in this section has been updated according to their final report.

Port Overview

In 2004 loading of vessels at the anchorage in Port of Mananjary was suspended. Previously barges had transported coffee and spices out to vessels the anchorage. Open sea and lagoon/canal are connected by one or two gaps in the sand dune separating both bodies of water.

The(se) entry channel(s) become(s) more pronounced during the rainy season. The sea in front of the channel is rough; the seabed is dotted with reefs and rocks. Finding a possible passage from the ever-changing gap in the dune (permanent marking of an access with buoys is consequently not feasible) to the anchorage was a task that was reported to have taken days before cargo handling could commence. During the passage out, cargo on the barges was likely to suffer from waves breaking over the barges. After careful sounding off the beach and preparation entering the lagoon with a beacher might be possible, but it is still a risky operation.

The “Canal des Pangalanes” was until 1999 able to transport containers (two 20ft Cont. on each barge) with relief cargo from Tamatave to Mananjary. The traverse of the channel took 8 days. A stripping site was used next to the IMI’s (Institut Malgache d’Innovation) huge barge repair hangar, which would have doubled as a warehouse should no trucks have been available. Usually the cargo was manhandled directly from the containers onto the trucks.

A sunken dredger at the former landing indicates the general degeneration of navigation on the channel.

Key port information can also be found at: Maritime Database information on Madagascar

Port Picture

Description and Contacts of Key Companies

For information on Madagascar Port of Mananjary contact details, please see the following link: 4.2.3 Madagascar Port and Waterways Company Contact List

Port Performance

Berthing Specifications

Port Handling Equipment

Customs Guidance

For information on Madagascar Customs details, please see the following link: 1.3 Madagascar Customs Information

Terminal Information

Main Storage Terminal

Hiterland Information

Presently rehabilitation works are announced for Ambalavontaka, Analapotsy, Andrangazavaka between Mananjary and Mahanoro. There is road access from Tamatave to Mahanoro.

Of some 560 km to Tamatave, only about 200 km up to Mahanoro are still navigable for larger barges. Towards the south just 60 km to Namorona are navigable for smaller craft, carrying up to 10 tons. The lack of availability of this inland waterway is even more frustrating as the bridge spanning Mananjary River some 12 km west of Mananjary on RN25 has a limited capacity of 10 tons – further reducing the agility of trucking cargo into the Mananjary-zone. Bigger trucks have to use a barge allowing 25 T max. Chef of the barge 0341348758 Mr Jean Claude.

Transport capacities:

Ambava-sahavato : 20000 Ar per pax / 5000 Ar per bag 50 KG / 18 T max

Nousy varika 15000 Ar per pax / 4000 Ar per bag 50 kg / 18 T max

Ambohitsara 8000 Ar per pax / 2000 Ar per bag 50 kg / 18 T max

Andara 8000 Ar per pax / 2000 Ar per bag 50 kg / 18 T max

Mahaela 1000 Ar per pax / 1500 Ar per bag 50 kg / 18 T max

Ambodiria Sahafary 20000 Ar per pax / 5000 Ar per bag 50 kg / 18 T max

60 boats available in total

Currently each owner is independent. An association is being set up gathering all the boats.

Contact of 2 owners: 0344080458 ; 3 boats / 0349703542 ; 1 boat

APMF Director Mr Edgard 0341143038

Adjoint APMF Mr Christian 034489310