Ports & Harbours of the Atlantic coast of Africa
YearMaps maps 113 harbours on the Atlantic coast of Africa, in 20 countries and territories. The largest by the World Port Index's harbour size are Agadir, Casablanca, Pennington Oil Terminal, Nouadhibou, Conakry and Cotonou. One is written up in full below, and every harbour is listed with its depths, tidal range and the largest ships it takes.
Africa's Atlantic coast runs from Morocco past Senegal and the Gulf of Guinea to Angola and Namibia, with few sheltered bays. Portuguese navigators charted it in the fifteenth century, and forts such as Elmina and the island of Gorée became centres of the gold trade and of the transatlantic slave trade. The Gulf of Guinea's harbours now export oil, cocoa and minerals. Saint Helena and the other South Atlantic islands are listed here too.
- Harbours
- 113
- Countries
- 20
- Large Harbours
- 3
- Written Up
- 1
Map of the Ports of the Atlantic coast of Africa
Blue dots are the harbours of the World Port Index; tap or click one to open its entry. Use the layer panel to add trade routes, rivers and historical borders.
Tin Can Island
The harbour of the Atlantic coast of Africa with an encyclopedia article, each with its figures from the World Port Index.
Tin Can Island
Very Small harbour · Nigeria
Tin Can Island Port (TCIP) is located in Apapa, the port for the city of Lagos. Tin Can Island Port is located on an eponymous island, seven kilometers due west of the center of Lagos across Lagos Harbor.
Tin Can Island Port was begun in 1976 and opened in 1977. In 1991, the Nigerian Ports Authority became responsible for operating the port. The Roro Terminal was designated as part of the new Tin Can Island Port in 1977. Tin Can Island merged with Roro port in 2006 when private terminal operators, Port and Terminal Multiservices Ltd. (PTML) took over the terminals.
Since then, PTML has made efforts to redevelop the terminals.
Tin Can Island Port is the second busiest Port in Nigeria after Apapa Port.
The storage capacity of the silos is 28,000 metric tonnes of grain which is transported by Fleetwood Transportation. The terminal handles wheat, maize and malt and can take delivery of about 4000 metric tonnes of grain daily. The port facilities can handle ships of about 30,000 tonnes. There is also a grain bagging facility on-site.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Tin Can Island Port (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Harbour size
- Very Small
- Channel depth
- 38.4 m
- Anchorage depth
- 42.1 m
- Cargo pier depth
- 38.4 m
- Tidal range
- 1 m
- Largest vessel
- large vessels
- Country
- Nigeria
- Coordinates
- 6.3500°, 3.3500°
All Harbours of the Atlantic coast of Africa
113 harbours, the largest first by the index's harbour size. Channel depth and tidal range set the physical limit on which ships can call. 41 of them are recorded in the source with the city they serve.
| Harbour | Country | Size | Channel | Anchorage | Tide | Largest vessel | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agadir | Morocco | Major | 42.1 m | — | 3 m | medium vessels | |
| Casablanca | Morocco | Major | 31.1 m | — | 4 m | large vessels | |
| Pennington Oil Terminal | Nigeria | Major | — | 5.5 m | 1 m | large vessels | |
| Nouadhibou | Mauritania | Medium | 42.1 m | — | 2 m | medium vessels | |
| Conakry | Guinea | Medium | 38.4 m | — | 4 m | large vessels | |
| Cotonou | Benin | Medium | 38.4 m | — | 2 m | large vessels | |
| Dakar | Senegal | Medium | 34.7 m | — | 2 m | medium vessels | |
| Bonny | Nigeria | Medium | 27.4 m | 16.5 m | 3 m | large vessels | |
| Lomeserves Lomé | Togo | Medium | 27.4 m | — | 2 m | large vessels | |
| Port Gentilserves Port-Gentil | Gabon | Medium | 27.4 m | — | 2 m | large vessels | |
| Georgetown | Saint Helena | Medium | 5.5 m | 12.8 m | 1 m | large vessels | |
| St Louisserves Saint-Louis | Mauritania | Small | 56.7 m | — | 1 m | medium vessels | |
| Cabinda | Angola | Small | 53 m | — | 1 m | large vessels | |
| Kenitra | Morocco | Small | 53 m | — | 3 m | medium vessels | |
| Boma | DR Congo | Small | 42.1 m | — | 2 m | medium vessels | |
| Freetown | Sierra Leone | Small | 42.1 m | — | 3 m | medium vessels | |
| Luderitz Bayserves Lüderitz | Namibia | Small | 42.1 m | — | 1 m | medium vessels | |
| Monrovia | Liberia | Small | 42.1 m | — | 1 m | large vessels | |
| Safi | Morocco | Small | 42.1 m | — | 3 m | medium vessels | |
| Nouakchott | Mauritania | Small | 34.7 m | — | 1 m | medium vessels | |
| Pointe Noireserves Pointe-Noire | Republic of the Congo | Small | 34.7 m | — | 1 m | large vessels | |
| Port Owendo | Gabon | Small | 34.7 m | 38.4 m | 2 m | large vessels | |
| Luanda | Angola | Small | 31.1 m | — | 1 m | large vessels | |
| Tema | Ghana | Small | 31.1 m | — | 2 m | medium vessels | |
| Walvis Bay | Namibia | Small | 31.1 m | — | 2 m | large vessels | |
| Lobito | Angola | Small | 27.4 m | — | 2 m | large vessels | |
| el Jorf Lasfar | Morocco | Small | 23.8 m | 5.5 m | 3 m | medium vessels | |
| Oguendjo Terminal | Gabon | Small | 9.1 m | 5.5 m | — | large vessels | |
| Antan Oil Terminal | Nigeria | Small | 5.5 m | 5.5 m | 2 m | large vessels | |
| Estrela Oil Field | Angola | Small | 5.5 m | — | — | large vessels | |
| Malongo Oil Terminal | Angola | Small | — | 5.5 m | 2 m | large vessels | |
| North Point | Saint Helena | Small | — | 53 m | — | medium vessels | |
| Palanca Terminal | Angola | Small | — | 5.5 m | 2 m | large vessels | |
| Takula Terminal | Angola | Small | — | 5.5 m | 1 m | large vessels | |
| Benti | Guinea | Very Small | 53 m | 27.4 m | 3 m | — | |
| Bonthe | Sierra Leone | Very Small | 53 m | 45.7 m | 3 m | medium vessels | |
| Burutu | Nigeria | Very Small | 53 m | 45.7 m | 4 m | medium vessels | |
| el Jadida | Morocco | Very Small | 53 m | — | 3 m | medium vessels | |
| Forcados | Nigeria | Very Small | 53 m | 42.1 m | 3 m | large vessels | |
| Karabane | Senegal | Very Small | 53 m | 38.4 m | 1 m | medium vessels | |
| Porto Do Ambrizserves Ambriz | Angola | Very Small | 53 m | — | 1 m | medium vessels | |
| Bananaserves Moanda | DR Congo | Very Small | 49.4 m | — | 1 m | medium vessels | |
| Koko | Nigeria | Very Small | 49.4 m | 45.7 m | 1 m | medium vessels | |
| Rufisque | Senegal | Very Small | 49.4 m | 49.4 m | — | — | |
| Sapele | Nigeria | Very Small | 49.4 m | — | 1 m | large vessels | |
| Victoria | Guinea | Very Small | 49.4 m | 45.7 m | 14 m | — | |
| Cogo | Equatorial Guinea | Very Small | 45.7 m | 20.1 m | 2 m | medium vessels | |
| Futila Terminal | Angola | Very Small | 45.7 m | 5.5 m | — | medium vessels | |
| Mohammedia | Morocco | Very Small | 45.7 m | 23.8 m | 4 m | large vessels | |
| Warri | Nigeria | Very Small | 45.7 m | — | 1 m | large vessels | |
| Banjul | Gambia | Very Small | 42.1 m | — | 2 m | medium vessels | |
| Calabar | Nigeria | Very Small | 42.1 m | — | 2 m | large vessels | |
| Okrika | Nigeria | Very Small | 42.1 m | 31.1 m | 5 m | large vessels | |
| Onne | Nigeria | Very Small | 42.1 m | 23.8 m | — | large vessels | |
| Greenville | Liberia | Very Small | 38.4 m | — | 1 m | medium vessels | |
| Pepel | Sierra Leone | Very Small | 38.4 m | 38.4 m | 3 m | medium vessels | |
| San Pedroserves San-Pedro | Côte d'Ivoire | Very Small | 38.4 m | — | 2 m | large vessels | |
| Tin Can Island | Nigeria | Very Small | 38.4 m | 42.1 m | 1 m | large vessels | |
| Bata | Equatorial Guinea | Very Small | 34.7 m | — | 2 m | large vessels | |
| Bissau | Guinea Bissau | Very Small | 34.7 m | — | 6 m | large vessels | |
| Kpeme | Togo | Very Small | 34.7 m | 27.4 m | 2 m | medium vessels | |
| Ad Dakhla | Morocco | Very Small | 31.1 m | — | 2 m | medium vessels | |
| Buchanan | Liberia | Very Small | 31.1 m | — | 1 m | large vessels | |
| Luba | Equatorial Guinea | Very Small | 16.5 m | — | 1 m | medium vessels | |
| Djeno Terminal | Republic of the Congo | Very Small | 9.1 m | 5.5 m | 8 m | large vessels | |
| Agbami Oil Terminal | Nigeria | Very Small | 5.5 m | 5.5 m | — | large vessels | |
| Akpo Oil Terminal | Nigeria | Very Small | 5.5 m | 5.5 m | — | large vessels | |
| Bonny Offshore Terminal | Nigeria | Very Small | 5.5 m | 5.5 m | — | large vessels | |
| Brass Oil Terminal | Nigeria | Very Small | 5.5 m | 5.5 m | 1 m | large vessels | |
| Cap Lopez | Gabon | Very Small | 5.5 m | 5.5 m | 2 m | large vessels | |
| Cape Palmasserves Harper | Liberia | Very Small | 5.5 m | — | 2 m | medium vessels | |
| Dalia Terminal | Angola | Very Small | 5.5 m | 5.5 m | — | large vessels | |
| Dussafu Terminal | Republic of the Congo | Very Small | 5.5 m | 5.5 m | — | large vessels | |
| Ebome Marine Terminal | Cameroon | Very Small | 5.5 m | 5.5 m | — | medium vessels | |
| Edinburgh of the Seven Seas | Saint Helena | Very Small | 5.5 m | 5.5 m | 2 m | medium vessels | |
| Egina Oil Terminal | Nigeria | Very Small | 5.5 m | 5.5 m | — | large vessels | |
| Escravos Oil Terminal | Nigeria | Very Small | 5.5 m | 5.5 m | 1 m | large vessels | |
| Espoir Marine Terminal | Côte d'Ivoire | Very Small | 5.5 m | 5.5 m | — | large vessels | |
| Etame Terminal | Gabon | Very Small | 5.5 m | 5.5 m | — | large vessels | |
| Forcados Oil Terminal | Nigeria | Very Small | 5.5 m | 5.5 m | 2 m | large vessels | |
| Gamba Oil Terminalserves Gamba | Gabon | Very Small | 5.5 m | — | 2 m | large vessels | |
| Greater Plutonio Terminal | Angola | Very Small | 5.5 m | 5.5 m | — | large vessels | |
| Jamestown | Saint Helena | Very Small | 5.5 m | 5.5 m | 1 m | large vessels | |
| Kizomba A Terminal | Angola | Very Small | 5.5 m | 5.5 m | — | large vessels | |
| Kizomba B Terminal | Angola | Very Small | 5.5 m | 5.5 m | — | large vessels | |
| Kizomba C Terminal | Angola | Very Small | 5.5 m | 5.5 m | — | large vessels | |
| Kuito Oil Field | Angola | Very Small | 5.5 m | 5.5 m | — | large vessels | |
| M'Bya Oil Terminal | Gabon | Very Small | 5.5 m | 5.5 m | 1 m | large vessels | |
| N'Kossa Terminal | Republic of the Congo | Very Small | 5.5 m | 5.5 m | — | — | |
| Odudu Terminal | Nigeria | Very Small | 5.5 m | 5.5 m | 2 m | large vessels | |
| Okono Terminal | Nigeria | Very Small | 5.5 m | 5.5 m | — | large vessels | |
| Okwori Terminal | Nigeria | Very Small | 5.5 m | 5.5 m | — | large vessels | |
| Port Bouet | Côte d'Ivoire | Very Small | 5.5 m | 5.5 m | — | large vessels | |
| Porto Amboim | Angola | Very Small | 5.5 m | 16.5 m | 1 m | — | |
| Psvm Terminal | Angola | Very Small | 5.5 m | 5.5 m | — | large vessels | |
| Punta Europa Terminalserves Malabo | Equatorial Guinea | Very Small | 5.5 m | — | — | large vessels | |
| Qua Iboe Oil Terminal | Nigeria | Very Small | 5.5 m | 5.5 m | 2 m | large vessels | |
| Saltpond | Ghana | Very Small | 5.5 m | 31.1 m | — | — | |
| Sea Eagle Terminal | Nigeria | Very Small | 5.5 m | 5.5 m | — | large vessels | |
| Serpentina Terminal | Equatorial Guinea | Very Small | 5.5 m | 5.5 m | 1 m | large vessels | |
| Ukpokiti Marine Terminal | Nigeria | Very Small | 5.5 m | 5.5 m | — | large vessels | |
| Yoho Terminal | Nigeria | Very Small | 5.5 m | 5.5 m | 2 m | — | |
| Yombo Terminal | Republic of the Congo | Very Small | 5.5 m | 5.5 m | — | large vessels | |
| Baobab Marine Terminal | Côte d'Ivoire | Very Small | — | 5.5 m | — | large vessels | |
| Ceiba Terminal | Equatorial Guinea | Very Small | — | 5.5 m | 1 m | medium vessels | |
| Essaouira | Morocco | Very Small | — | 9.1 m | 3 m | — | |
| Girassol Terminal | Angola | Very Small | — | — | 2 m | large vessels | |
| Kole Oil Terminal | Cameroon | Very Small | — | 5.5 m | 2 m | medium vessels | |
| Laayoune | Morocco | Very Small | — | — | 2 m | medium vessels | |
| Lyndianeserves Kaolack | Senegal | Very Small | — | — | 2 m | medium vessels | |
| M Bao Oil Terminal | Senegal | Very Small | — | 16.5 m | 1 m | medium vessels | |
| Moudi Marine Terminal | Cameroon | Very Small | — | 5.5 m | 3 m | medium vessels | |
| Olowi Marine Terminal | Gabon | Very Small | — | — | — | — |
Port Cities of the Atlantic coast of Africa
The most populous cities with a harbour of the Atlantic coast of Africa within 25 km. Each city is listed with its country's other cities on the country page.
- Lagos9.47 million
Nigeria · Tin Can Island (11 km)
- Luanda5.17 million
Capital of Angola · Luanda
- Abidjan3.80 million
Capital of Ivory Coast · Port Bouet (13 km)
- Casablanca3.18 million
Morocco · Casablanca, Mohammedia (24 km)
- Dakar2.60 million
Capital of Senegal · Dakar, Rufisque (21 km), M Bao Oil Terminal (8 km)
- Conakry1.49 million
Capital of Guinea · Conakry
- Lomé1.45 million
Capital of Togo · Lome
- Monrovia1.04 million
Capital of Liberia · Monrovia
- Port Harcourt1.02 million
- Warri830,106
Nigeria · Warri
- Freetown827,000
- Agadir825,467
Morocco · Agadir
- Cotonou762,000
Capital of Benin · Cotonou
- Nouakchott742,144
Capital of Mauritania · Nouakchott
- Pointe-Noire659,084
Congo (Brazzaville) · Pointe Noire, Djeno Terminal (18 km)
- Libreville578,156
Capital of Gabon · Port Owendo (13 km)
- Kenitra551,786
Morocco · Kenitra
- Calabar461,796
Nigeria · Calabar
- Bissau403,339
Capital of Guinea Bissau · Bissau
- Safi353,476
Morocco · Safi
- Sapele309,162
Nigeria · Sapele
- Porto-Novo300,000
Benin · Cotonou (14 km)
- Kaolack277,812
Senegal · Lyndiane
- Saint-Louis220,792
Mauritania · St Louis
- San-Pedro210,273
Ivory Coast · San Pedro
- Tema209,000
Ghana · Tema
- Lobito207,932
Angola · Lobito
- Brikama195,136
The Gambia · Banjul (21 km)
- Laayoune188,084
Morocco · Laayoune
- El Jadida180,470
Morocco · el Jorf Lasfar (19 km), el Jadida
Countries with Harbours on the Atlantic coast of Africa
More Seas and Coasts
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Atlantic Coast of Africa: Quick Answers
- How many ports are there on the Atlantic coast of Africa?
- YearMaps lists 113 ports and harbours on the Atlantic coast of Africa, from the World Port Index of the US National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. Small fishing harbours and private terminals outside the index are not counted.
- Which countries have ports on the Atlantic coast of Africa?
- Nigeria (26), Angola (18), Morocco (10), Gabon (8), Equatorial Guinea (6), Republic of the Congo (5), Senegal (5), Côte d'Ivoire (4), Liberia (4), Cameroon (3), Guinea (3), Mauritania (3), Sierra Leone (3), DR Congo (2), Ghana (2), Namibia (2), Togo (2), Benin (1), Gambia (1) and Guinea Bissau (1).
- What are the largest ports on the Atlantic coast of Africa?
- By the World Port Index's harbour size, the largest are Agadir, Casablanca, Pennington Oil Terminal, Nouadhibou, Conakry and Cotonou.
- What are the main port cities on the Atlantic coast of Africa?
- The most populous cities with a harbour here are Lagos (9.47 million), Luanda (5.17 million), Abidjan (3.80 million), Casablanca (3.18 million) and Dakar (2.60 million).