Douala
UN/LOCODE CMDLA · Cameroon · Africa
Douala (UN/LOCODE CMDLA) is a designated seaport with an adjacent airport in Cameroon in the tropical northern European / African Atlantic region. The port operates on Africa/Douala, uses the CFA Franc BEAC (XAF), runs shore power at 220V/50Hz (Type C/E). Nearest major airport for crew changes is Douala International Airport (DLA), 4 km from the port.
Reference
- Coordinates
- 4.0429389, 9.7062018
- Time zone
- Africa/DoualaUTC +01:00no DST
- Local currency
- XAF— CFA Franc BEAC
- Languages
- fr, en
- Nearest airport
- DLADouala International Airport~4 km
- Electricity
- 220 V50 Hzplugs C, E(country default — verify at berth)
- Climate
- AwTropical savanna (dry winter)
Country-coastal Köppen zone (most ports cluster on the coast). For port-coordinate resolution use Kottek 2006 0.5° grid.
- Function codes
- 1--45---
seaport · airport · postal exchange
- Port authority
- Accueil - Port Autonome de Douala 2023
Operational details
Compiled from public port-authority and P&I-club directories. Always verify current contacts via your agent before arrival.
ISPS security level (normal): 1
Port of Douala, Cameroon. Verify pre-arrival, pilot booking, and agent details with the port authority.
Helplines for seafarers in Cameroon
Welfare, abandonment, wages, medical, mental health, harassment — 24/7 lines where available. See full helplines directory.
- ISWAN SeafarerHelpGlobal · 24/7 · en, ar, es, fr
- ISWAN Mental Health & Wellbeing helplineGlobal · 24/7 · en, es, ru, tl
- ITF SeafarersGlobal · 24/7 for emergencies · en
- ISWAN — Family helpline (for relatives of seafarers)Global · 24/7 · en, hi, tl
- ISWAN Yacht Crew HelplineGlobal · 24/7 · en
- ITF Inspectorate — Find your nearest inspectorGlobal · Varies by port · en
Other ports in Cameroon
Port-state-control region: abuja MoU · how to file a PSC complaint.
Douala: seafarer FAQ
- Is shore leave allowed at Douala?
- Shore leave at Douala is governed by Cameroon immigration rules, the flag administration's policy, and the port authority's local rules. Seafarers normally need their seaman's book + a shore-leave permit issued by the agent. Confirm with your agent before going ashore — local policy changes frequently.
- What visa or shore-pass do I need for Douala?
- Seafarers calling at Douala on a vessel are generally exempt from regular tourist visas under Convention 108 / 185 (Seafarers' Identity Documents) if their flag administration has ratified the convention and they hold an SID. The standard document is the seaman's book + ship's crew list. Cameroon may also require a shore pass issued by the agent. Confirm before you board the vessel — visa rules vary by nationality and by recent immigration-policy changes.
- Is there a seafarer welfare centre at Douala?
- Yes — 1 seafarer welfare centre is listed for Douala in our directory. The centres are typically run by the Mission to Seafarers, Stella Maris (Apostleship of the Sea), or a regional ministry, and offer wifi, transport, shop, chaplaincy, and advocacy. Walk-in is normal; no appointment needed.
- Is there a crisis or welfare helpline I can call from Douala?
- Yes — 6 helplines are listed for Cameroon in our directory, plus ISWAN's 24-hour multilingual SeafarerHelp (+44 20 7323 2737) and the ITF Helpline. Helplines handle crisis support, abandonment, wage theft, mental health, and bereavement.
- What's the nearest hospital to Douala?
- Most major ports have a port-area hospital with seafarer-accustomed admissions; the welfare centre and the ship's agent can both advise. For serious cases, the nearest international hospital is normally in the same city or the next major city. The nearest major airport is Douala International Airport (DLA), about 4 km away — useful for medevac planning.
For the arriving crew
- Pilot ladder (SOLAS V/23) — rigging + inspection + Master's duty of care.
- Pre-arrival checklist — the standard bridge + engine + agent workflow before entering port.
- Ships' agent — role + documentation + interface with pilotage + tug + immigration.
- Currency at port — cash-carrying limits + declaration + safe practices.
- Hours of rest — STCW VIII/1 + MLC A2.3 rest rules during port operations.
Sources & verification (13)
- country_iso3 · ISO 3166-1 (CM)retrieved 2026-05-06
- country_name · ISO 3166-1 (CM)retrieved 2026-05-06
- currency_code · ISO 4217:2015 (XAF)retrieved 2026-05-06
- currency_name · ISO 4217:2015 (XAF)retrieved 2026-05-06
- languages · CIA World Factbook (public domain), national-language listing (CM)retrieved 2026-05-06
- timezone_iana · IANA tz database (Africa/Douala)retrieved 2026-05-06
- timezone_utc_offset · ECMA-402 Intl.DateTimeFormat (computed) (Africa/Douala)retrieved 2026-05-06
- timezone_dst · ECMA-402 Intl.DateTimeFormat (computed) (Africa/Douala)retrieved 2026-05-06
- electricity · IEC TR 60083 plug-and-socket standard list (CM)retrieved 2026-05-06
- function_codes_expanded · UNECE Rec. 16 — UN/LOCODE function-code mask (1--45---)retrieved 2026-05-06
- nearest_major_airport · OurAirports (CC0) — davidmegginson.github.io/ourairports-data (DLA)retrieved 2026-05-07
- wikidata_qid · Wikidata SPARQL (P1937 UN/LOCODE join) (Q132830)retrieved 2026-05-07
- climate_classification · Kottek et al. 2006 / Beck et al. 2018 — country-coastal Köppen zone (CM)retrieved 2026-05-07
Last verified
High confidenceEditorial confidence: how we grade. Data sources and methodology: /sources.