Maersk opens 1,500-TEU container depot in Cameroon

Maersk has opened a new container depot with a capacity of 1,500 TEU in Kribi, Cameroon, as part of its investment strategy to strengthen logistics infrastructure across Africa

Kribi is home to a growing deep-water port and serves Cameroon as well as neighbouring states and countries.

"By easing logistics bottlenecks we can, together with our customers, mutually unlock stronger growth for Cameroon’s economy. Efficient, reliable supply chains are levers for market growth, lowering costs and strengthening competitiveness," Franck Dedenis, managing director of Maersk Area West Africa.

Container depots connect the ocean and inland legs of global supply chains, supporting more seamless and efficient import and export operations.

“Our customers will greatly benefit from the new facility,” Dedenis added.

The new Maersk depot in Kribi provides specialised cargo-handling services, storage options, and customs inspection and clearance services. These capabilities can help accelerate supply chains, while also providing flexibility when demand changes or customers need to manage overstocking.

The facility also improves the availability of different types of container equipment closer to customers’ facilities.

Alongside manual cargo-handling services, customers using the Kribi depot will have greater visibility into their container status through Maersk’s digital booking, tracking and monitoring solutions.

"In disruptive times like ours, visibility translates directly into supply chain resilience. Right now, resilience of supply chains is on top of many customers’ agenda," commented Dedenis.

The Kribi depot also allows cargo owners to temporarily expand their storage infrastructure by integrating the facility into their supply chains. This provides flexibility compared with renting additional warehouse capacity at short notice.

The depot is equipped to handle reefer containers, supporting the transportation of temperature-sensitive goods. It will also offer food grade containers.

The facility enables customers to return empty containers more easily, helping them avoid detention and demurrage costs.

With the opening of the Kribi facility, Maersk now provides dedicated services through eight Maersk-owned depots across West Africa, alongside more than 20 depots operated by third-party vendor partners.

The new depot adds 16,000 sqm to Maersk’s depot network, which already includes 150,000 sqm in Maersk-owned depots and more than 280,000 sqm in third-party depots.

Maersk’s dedicated depot services are now available across ten West African countries, including Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal and Sierra Leone.

The investment comes as increasing ocean transport volumes place pressure on terminals and hinterland logistics, while insufficient investment in port and landside infrastructure has contributed to logistics bottlenecks in many regions.

"This is why Maersk is investing significantly in land-based infrastructure, including building or modernizing terminals, expanding its depot network and offering warehousing facilities where needed. The Kribi depot is another example of Maersk’s priority to simplify and strengthen global supply chains, from factory to end consumer and from farm to fork for fresh agricultural produce," concluded Dedenis.