Introduction
Madagascar has no inland waterways for transport of goods and people, on a large scale.
The “Canal des Pangalanes”, running along the East Coast, is currently being rebuilt by the APMF(Agence Portuaire Maritime et Fluviale de Madagascar).
In the same time, the APMF is rebuilding the ports of Manakara and Mananjary. (6 month projects, expected end of works is August 2023).
As the only means of access to basic services for the riparian population, the canal continues to be used for the transport of products and people by artisanal canoes and rafts to the main centres of the area.
River navigation by traditional canoeing and craft units (kanota, laka), ensures the circulation of local products, population and tourists along the rivers of the West Coast: Tsiribihina in Miandrivazo and Sofia in Port Bergé, Betsiboka in Marovoay .
Canal des Pangalanes
In March 2023, 432 km were ready for navigation. The APMF is planning to rebuilt 630 km at the end of 2024.
The Pangalanes Chanel runs along the East coast from Toamasina (North) to Farafangana (South) over 630 km. Its construction, from 1896 to 1904, was meant to facilitate transport of goods, as coastal navigation was considered too dangerous.
After the colonial era, its maintenance was not pursued and the channel, dug in the sand, collapsed regularly. The waterway then quickly found itself invaded by large water lilies, hyacinths of water, covering part of its surface and making laborious the progress of the boats. It sank for 20 years in oblivion, its bridges and railways were left to the abandonment.
Main problems nowadays:
-
Some stretches blocked by sand
-
Hyacinth invasion
For the cargo, transporters use transport there goods to Mahanoro by 20 or 30 tons trucks and then transfer on 30 tons boats to reach Nosy Varika and Mananjary.
Tamatave to Mahanoro by truck: around 8 hours
Mahanoro to Mananjary with a 30 tons boat: 3 days
Company Information
From Tamatve to Mahanoro, the boats cannot transport more than 10 tons because of the depth of the channel.
Tamatave APMF office has registered 60 owners using there port but there is no figures for the places.
From Mahanoro to Manajary, the situation is different; boats up to 30 tons can navigate while both towns are accessible by trucks.
The Manjanjay wholesale suppliers use it to transport their commodities and some of them could be able to facilitate transport for NGOs.
|
Passenger Carrying Capacity |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Mickael MAC |
Alixia SIOUKING MAC |
Arcadius WAI |
|
Number of Passenger ships < 20 passengers |
0 |
0 |
2 |
|
Number of Passenger ships < 50 passengers |
3 |
3 |
4 |
|
Number of Passenger ships < 100 passengers |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
Number of Passenger ships >100 passengers |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Capacité de transport de passagers |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Mickael MAC |
Alixia SIOUKING MAC |
Arcadius WAI |
|
Bateaux |
|||
|
Nombre de bateaux |
5 |
3 |
6 |
|
Tonnage / Volume Capacité de charge (mt / m3) |
5 x 30 t |
1 x 20 t 1 x 25 t 1 x 30 t |
1 x 20 t 2 x 25 t 3 x 30 t |
|
Barges |
|||
|
Nombre de Barges |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Tonnage / Volume Capacité de charge (mt / m3) |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Remorqueurs |
|||
|
Nombre de remorqueurs |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Tonnage / Volume Capacité de charge (mt / m3) |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Additional information
|
Name |
Company |
Phone |
|
Type of vehicle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mickael MAC |
/ |
0324080438 |
|
. 2 trucks (15 and 30t) for Tamatave to Mahanoro . 1 truck 5t in Mananjary . 5 x 30t boats from Mahanoro to Mananjary |
|
Alixia SIOUKING MAC |
Magasin central |
0340113565 |
|
. 9 trucks: 5 x 30t and 4 x 5t . 3 boats: 20t, 25t and 30t |
|
Arcadius WAI |
/ |
0320509313 |
|
. 7 trucks : 3x30t, 1x15t, 3x5t . 6 boats: 3x30t, 2x25t, 1x20t |
Travel Time Matrix
These time information are an average, for the passenger and 10 tons cargo boats: 1 day can be in between 7 to 10 hours, depending on the engine.
|
Travel Time from Main port to other major Ports on boat |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Manangareza |
Ringaringa |
Ambila Lemaintso |
Mahanoro |
Nosy Varika |
Ambavan’ Isahavato |
Mananjary |
|
Manangareza |
|
9 hours |
1 day |
2 days |
3 days |
3 days |
4 days |
|
Ringaringa |
9 hours |
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Ambila Lemaintso |
1 day |
1 day |
|
1 day |
2 days |
2 days |
3 days |
|
Mahanoro |
2 days |
2 days |
1 day |
|
1 day |
1 day |
2 days |
|
Nosy Varika |
3 days |
3 days |
2 days |
1 day |
|
8 hours |
1 day |
|
Ambavan’ Isahavato |
3 days |
3 days |
2 days |
1 day |
8 hours |
|
1 day |
|
Mananjary |
4 days |
4 days |
3 days |
2 days |
1 day |
1 day |
|
As an additional information, the time to reach Mananjary from Mahanoro with a 30 tons boat is 3 days.
Key Routes
|
Key Route Information Domestic / International |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
From: Manangareza To: Ringaringa |
From: Manangareza To: Mahanoro |
From: Mahanoro To: Mananjary |
|
Distance total (km) |
41 |
227 |
200 |
|
Width (m) |
max : 170 |
Max : 220 |
Max : 145 |
|
River flow (m³ / second) |
Between 120 and 150 m3 /s |
Between 120 and 150 m3 /s |
Between 120 and 150 m3 /s |
|
Seasonal effects |
Safety concerns during the rainy season / cyclones |
||
|
Maximum size of boats
|
10 x 2 m |
10 x 2 m |
10 x 2 m |
|
Type of traffic Cargo , Passengers |
Cargo and Passengers |
Cargo and Passengers |
Cargo and Passengers |
|
Security Concerns issue |
No |
Yes |
No |
|
Main ports |
Manangareza / Ringringa |
Manangareza / Mahanoro |
Mahanoro / Mananjary |
Port Information
|
Key Port Information |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Port Fluvial Manangareza |
Port Fluvial de Mahanoro |
Port Fluvial de Mananjary |
|
Location |
Toamasina |
Mahanoro |
Mananjary |
|
Contact Information |
Mr Hasimbola 0321125874 |
Mr Roland 0321125811 |
Mr Edgard 034 11 430 38 |
|
Connections with Other Transport Means
|
- Road National 2 (to Tamatave or Antananarivo) -Air: Small domestic airport (private flights only) |
-Road: Secundary road up to Antsampanana (20t trucks max), then road National 2 (to Tamatave or Antananarivo) -Air: Small domestic airport (private flights only) |
-Road: Road National 25 to Ambohimaha, then connection with the road national 7 (to Fianarantsoa or Antananarivo) -Air: Small domestic airport (private flights only) |
|
Storage Capacity (m2 and m3) |
None |
None, former warehouses were broken by a cyclone. |
1 warehouse of 200 m2 at the port level |
|
Equipment |
None |
None |
None |
|
Customs Clearance Available
|
None |
None |
None |
|
Other comments |
Port performance: Around 10 boats per day Around 150passengers per day Cargo: The average per month is : -Received 150 tons -Sent 2000 tons |
Port performance: Around 12 boats per day Around 200 passengers per day Cargo: The average per month is : -Received 200 tons -Sent 2500 tons |
Port performance: Around 15 boat touch per day Around 150 passengers per day Cargo: The average per month is: -Received 1000 tons -Sent 200 tons |
Disclaimer: Inclusion of company information in the LCA does not imply any business relationship between the supplier and WFP / Logistics Cluster, and is used solely as a determinant of services, and capacities.
Please note: WFP / Logistics Cluster maintain complete impartiality and are not in a position to endorse, comment on any company's suitability as a reputable service provider.
