Country desk
DR Congo's own port is Matadi, up the Congo River from Banana and Boma, but the country's mineral exports also move through Lobito, Dar es Salaam, Durban, Beira and Walvis Bay. Coordinating a DR Congo shipment means choosing the corridor before choosing the ship.
A principal trading to DR Congo is dealing with copper, cobalt and other minerals outbound; wheat, rice, cement, vehicles and containers inbound, and with the fact that the country trades through its own river port and through the corridors of five neighbouring coastal states. Maingate Shipping's country desk turns that into one appointment: the right port for the cargo, the call attended, the corridor documents in order and the account closed.
The national ports and transport office at Matadi and the terminal concessionaire downstream; the desk files what each expects and reports to the principal in one style.
What every Congolese call is planned around: river pilotage from Banana, draft limits and Kinshasa-based crew travel define a Matadi call.
Each port has its own desk with the terminals, the cargo and the services a call needs.
DR Congo's ports are Matadi. Matadi handles containers, wheat, rice, cement and vehicles inbound, with copper and cobalt from the south sometimes routed by road through the historic quays at Matadi and the modern container gateway terminal downstream.
Calls at each port are attended by our partner agent there under Maingate's instruction, with the Mombasa desk issuing the proforma DA, tracking the call and closing the account.
Much of what lands in DR Congo is going somewhere else: the country trades through its own river port and through the corridors of five neighbouring coastal states. The receiver's clearing agent, the transit bond, the delivery order and the truck or wagon are as much part of the call as the crane, and the desk keeps them moving with the discharge.
Documents follow the cargo inland; quantities are reconciled at the quay before the vessel sails.
Every Congolese call touches the same authorities: the national ports and transport office at Matadi and the terminal concessionaire downstream. Filing ahead, in the format each expects, is what keeps a vessel from waiting at anchor for a stamp.
Reports to the principal follow one style at every port: pre-arrival, daily, departure with the statement of facts, then the final DA.
River pilotage from Banana, draft limits and Kinshasa-based crew travel define a Matadi call. Crew changes, bunkers, spares, cash to master and medical cases are handled at the port that suits the itinerary, and the desk tells the principal at nomination which port that is.
Owners whose charterers appoint the cargo agent place these matters with the desk as protecting agent.
Matadi, each with its own desk in this cluster. Smaller ports and anchorages are covered on request.
Our partner agent at each port, appointed and instructed by Maingate Shipping; the Mombasa desk coordinates and is responsible to the principal.
Yes. Multi-port itineraries are handled as one appointment with a separate DA per port on one account.
Yes, at each port according to its airport and immigration arrangements, described on the crew change desk for that port.
Send the vessel's particulars, ETA, port, cargo or purpose and the principal's details to the desk by email; a proforma DA follows promptly.
Nominate Maingate Shipping and the answer comes from Mombasa with a proforma DA attached.
The DR Congo desk connects to the port desks below and to the Africa agency line.
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