Container shipping Antwerp to Douala
Do you need to ship a container from Antwerp to Douala (CMDLA)? Sea freight offers many opportunities: it is suitable to ship large volumes for low prices, it is efficient and it is safe. Exporting a container overseas with roll on/roll off or cars and other vehicles can be facilitated by shippinglines like Pacific International Lines. When you are exporting, you can choose from various types of containers. An important distinction is full containers (FCL) and a partial filled container (LCL). Via our experts we provide you with up-to-date information regarding international transport Douala (CM DLA). You can read up-to-date information about how to choose a suitable container for your freight. Further on you can read a practical step-by-step plan. Provide us with your transport details and we will prepare a quote with great prices and shipping conditions.
- Ocean shipping is a quick, sure and inexpensive way to ship high volume products.
- Advantages compared to air freight: there are fewer restrictions and lower emissions.
- Sea freight is recommended for worldwide removals and the transit of food or equipment.
- The Port of Douala is an important logistics artery in Cameroon.
- We handle a wide variety of container sizes including: 20 FT, 40 FT, 40FT HC and Hard-Top, Insulated, Dry Van, Refrigerated, Open-Top, Ventilated containers.
Main topics
Shipping to Douala (CMDLA) from Antwerp (BEANR)
Ocean freight shipping is the process of transporting items or goods by ship. Your material is packed tightly in a container. The freight forwarder will book a container. The freight goes by truck to the shipping vessel at the departure port Douala (CM DLA), and will be shipped overseas to the consignee at the arrival harbour. They provide you options like port-to-door, port-to-port, door-to-door, door-to-port. In the attached table we share important information about the port of arrival.
| Port of departure | Port of Antwerp (BEANR) |
| Country of departure | Belgium |
| Port of destination | Port of Douala |
| Country of destination | Cameroon |
| Port Code | CMDLA |
| Transportation time | +/- 20 days |
| Shipping rates | $$$ |
| Port address | 5 Boulevard Leclerc Douala BP 4020 Cameroon |
| harbourdohaport@qatar.net.qa | |
| Website | www.otal.com/cameroon/index.htm |
| Telephone number | 237420133 |
Freight Forwarder Antwerp – port of Douala
- Freight Details
Enter the departing port and the destination harbor. Decide how you want to export: a complete full container (FCL) or (LCL) and partial shipments. Find a container size that fits your goods (20-foot, 40-foot, or a 40-foot high cube).
- Freight preparations
To start with, your load need to be prepared in the right way. To avoid damage, it is a good idea to use pallets. Don’t forget to label the cargo!
- Documents Required for Exporting
When exporting cargo to Douala (CMDLA), you need to share several export documents (on behalf of national customs): certificates of origin, packing declaration, export/import customs declaration, packing list, commercial invoice. A Bill of Lading is a required document signed by the carrier confirming goods were received in an acceptable condition and that they are ready to be shipped.
- Choosing the Incoterms
Incoterms are relevant terms for worldwide shipping to define the responsibilities and costs between two parties correctly. The chosen Incoterm decides who is responsible for e.g export/import documents, insurances and transport. Widely used incoterms are Ex Works (EXW), Delivery Duty Paid (DDP), Cost, Insurance Freight (CIF).
- Track shipment
Use container track and trace to check where your cargo is right now. You can see exactly when the load is registered at the POO (port of load), arrived at Port of Discharge (POD) and the moment the consignee has confirmed that the cargo has reached its final destination.
Sea freight from Douala (CMDLA) to Antwerp (BEANR): find a container that suits your cargo
You are going to ship a container from port of Douala – (CM DLA) to port of Antwerp – (BE ANR)? It is necessary to book the right container for your cargo. There are different sizes (20-ft, 40-ft) and different container agreements (FCL shipment or LCL shipping). Popular shipping lines include CMA CGM, Maersk, MOL, MSC. Well-known cities around the harbor are Douala, Bonabéri, Dibombari, Tiko, Muyuka, Mutengene, Buea, Limbe, Yabassi, Edéa, Kumba, Loum, Idenao, Manjo, Nkongsamba, Melong, Kribi, Eséka, Bafang, Bana. In the section below you will find useful information about the most popular types in the maritime industry. Our specialists also provide details about Certificate of Origin.
Explanation about a 20 foot container
20 ft. containers (a.k.a. dry van) is the most commonly type for shipment in ocean freight. They are easy to stack, which means they are cheaper to ship. Ideal for the transportation of bulk goods and furniture and international movings. What you might not know: TEU is equal to 1 20 Foot container.
- This box is often used for the shipment of goods in ocean freight.
- A 20-foot container is described in terms of size as: 6,06 x 2,44 x 2,59.
- Usually, 9-11 pallets are able to fit in one TEU.
- The maximum allowable load is +/- 27.900 kilogram.
What you need to know about the 40 FT container
A40 foot container is standard applied to shipping bulk goods. They can carry far more cargo at once. This makes it an excellent choice for transporting bulk goods by sea. Tip: you can also opt for a taller ‘high cube’ box. It has an exterior height of 9’6” (1 foot taller than normal). Very suitable for high products.
- Taller and bulkier than the standard containers.
- The dimensions are the same internationally: L 12.19m x W 2.44m x H 2.59m.
- It allows the transport of up to 28 pallets.
- Maximum load is about +/- 28.300 kilogram.
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Full Container (FCL)
When you want to ship large quantities of goods, than you can reserve your own full container. Transport specialists call this Full Container Load (FCL). There is no need to share it with other shippers. The benefits are great: ideal transit time, chance of damage is reduced to a minimum and you pay lower price per unit. Important to mention: it is not efficient for small cargo types and it is hard to book during peak season. Departing from another port? Also check out Rotterdam to Douala (CMDLA) or Hamburg to Douala (CMDLA).
- The premise of FCL is that the volume is large enough to fill a whole container by one customer.
- Very suitable for goods with a large dimension.
- Relevant when you are sending more than 15 m3.
- Available at: e.g. ONE, CMA CGM, Hapag-Lloyd, Maersk, MSC.
What does LCL container mean in shipping?
If your cargo does not fill an entire 20-foot or 40-foot container, then your cargo will be combined with other cargo. You choose a LCL (Less Than Container Load) contract. The premise of LCL is that you share space with others. There are many positive aspects to mention like: for smaller loads, it is way cheaper than a full container, less inventory costs & management and it is faster during peak-season. Pay attention: once you have more than half a container worth of goods, it is often cheaper to book a full container. The total costs are calculated based on the volume and weight of the packages.
- The goal of LCL is that your cargo will be placed into a partial container.
- An excellent choice for cargo volumes between 4 m3 & 16 m3.
- You only pay for the space you are using.
- Easier to book during peak season.
- Available at: e.g. ZIM, HMM, Wan Hai, POL, Yang Ming.
What other types of containers are there
The range of boxes is very diverse for the shipment of your goods. Each type of cargo requires a different approach. A Dry van is the most common type of freight transportation. Special boxes are also being used for oil or petroleum, meat, fish and frozen foods or very exclusive stuff. Our specialist has placed a summary below. You can also look further at transport options in Hulaylah (AEHTL), port of Rajang Port (MYSBW), Mangalore (INIXE) harbor and terminal Singapore (SGSIN).
- Bulk Containers: used in for transporting bulk cargo like as grain, feedstuffs, spices.
- Flat Rack Containers: internationally used when the cargo cannot fit inside a standard box.
- Hard-Top Containers: with a hard steel roof that can be used or removed.
- High-Cube Containers: perfect for large, oversized, tall, and bulky items.
- Insulated Containers: for shipping fresh products and keep up their freshness.
- Open-Top Containers: for exporting products that don’t fit in a regular container.
- Palletwide Containers: more popular and common in the European continent.
- Refrigerated Containers: reefers are used for goods which need to be transported at a constant temperature.
- Tank Containers: for the transport of all types of bulk liquid by rail, road and sea.
- Ventilated Containers: are fitted with additional ventilation holes.
Load types: what do you want to transport by sea?
Exporting goods by sea from Antwerp (BEANR) to Douala (CMDLA) has a lot of pluses: low cost, it is great for transporting bulky goods and eco-friendly. Much seen ocean cargo that are transported by sea are: roll on/roll off, break bulk, liquid bulk, dry bulk, containerized. You can read more about it in the section below.
- Car shipping: shipping your vehicle to another part of a country or the other side of the world.
- House Moving: choose reliable transport options for personal items (relocation).
- Removals (Household Goods): have your household effects transported with great care.
- Liquid Bulk: e.g. kerosene, diesel, chemicals, hydrogen, petroleum, biofuels.
- Dry Bulk: coal, grain, iron ore and rods, lumber, salt, cement.
- Roll on Roll off (RORO): vessel has facilities to enable road or rail vehicles to roll on and roll off.
- Breakbulk: ships carrying break-bulk cargo are often called general cargo ships.
- Retail & other: products like art and antiques, toys, electronic goods, sports equipment, medical/pharmacy & shoes, drinks, machines, furniture, fashion.
FAQ: Frequently asked questions about international transport
Shipping a container from Antwerp (BE) to Douala takes on average 20 days. The total distance is approx. 4750 nautical miles (nmi). Converted that is 8797 kilometers. When you ship a sea container, you have to pay close attention to ETD and ETA. ETD is about the expected departure time of the ship. ETA stands for Estimated time of arrival of the ship or truck. The exact shipping time has several factors: vessel speed, sea weather condition and cargo flows.
Shipping rates from Antwerp (Belgium) to Douala (Cameroon) are slightly above average. The actual costs are determined by various factors such as type of goods transported, period of the year and incoterms. Fill in the application form for a clear quote and estimated shipping time.
When transporting goods to Douala, then you should pay attention to customs clearance. The following documents need to be in place for effective and easy customs clearance. Packing List, Bill of Lading, Letter of Credit, Insurance Certificate, Import/export Licenses, Commercial Invoice. For more detailed information then we advise you to contact the customs of Cameroon or take a look at the website (www.otal.com/cameroon/index.htm).
The Incoterms decide which party will cover insurance fees for the shipment. The two most popular Incoterms rules in maritime shipping are FOB and CIF. CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight) means the exporting party bears responsibility for the cost and freight of bringing the goods to the agreed port. Free on Board (FOB) means the seller is responsible for all expenses the goods until they are loaded on a shipping vessel. In addition, there are other Incoterms 2000 like e.g. Free Carrier (FCA), Carriage Paid To (CPT), Ex Works (EXW), Free Alongside Ship (FAS) and Delivered At Place (DAP), Carriage and Insurance Paid To (CIP), Delivered at Place Unloaded (DPU).