The National Port Authority (NPA) of Liberia has acknowledged that the Freeport of Monrovia, the country's principal seaport, is struggling to keep up with the size and number of ships calling on it. Cargo vessels are queuing offshore, and importers are counting the cost. The Freeport handles most of the country's imported food, fuel, construction materials, and other essential goods.
In an exclusive interview with FrontPage Africa, Captain Samuel M. Lynch, the NPA's Harbor Master and head of its Marine Department, said a contract for comprehensive dredging of the entire port basin and navigation channel is expected to be signed this week. Expansion of container yards and berths would follow within three to eight months, he said. Lynch emphasized that the need for dredging and expansion can no longer be delayed.
The congestion at the Freeport has reached the National Legislature, with Senator Amara M. Konneh of Gbarpolu County writing to Senate President Pro-Tempore Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence to express concerns about the delays. Konneh cited insufficient container yard space and prolonged delays in dredging the port basin and channel as major issues. He also mentioned "a multiplicity of opaque transaction costs and fees" charged by various entities in the supply chain.
Lynch attributed the congestion to a combination of inadequate infrastructure, bigger vessels, limited berths, weather, and operational constraints. He explained that dredging at the Freeport is a continuous requirement due to sedimentation caused by ocean currents carrying sand from the river and nearby coastal areas. The last dredging was carried out in January 2023 by APM Terminals, the port's container terminal operator.
The NPA's Managing Director, Sekou Dukuly, previously stated that the authority is working on dredging and expansion. Lynch's interview provides more details on the planned work, including the dredging of the entire basin and the expansion of container yards and berths. He disputed Senator Konneh's figure of more than 30 days at sea, stating that the average waiting time for container ships in the region is about 26 days, while Liberia's is around 12 days.
Lynch highlighted that the port's needs have changed significantly since the concession arrangement with APM Terminals was introduced in 2013. Liberia's population and economy have grown, imports have risen, and global shipping has moved to much larger vessels. The port's container yard and berths must expand to match the growing cargo volumes.
The Harbor Master also drew a distinction between container ships and bulk carriers, which are frequently delayed due to Liberia's long rainy season. He emphasized that such delays are caused by the weather, not by port congestion. The NPA is working to address the congestion and improve the efficiency of the Freeport.
Key points
- The Freeport of Monrovia faces congestion due to inadequate infrastructure and bigger vessels.
- A contract for comprehensive dredging of the port basin and navigation channel is expected to be signed this week.
- The NPA plans to expand container yards and berths within three to eight months.
