The Autonomous Port of Conakry is a bauxite and container export port in the city of Conakry, Guinea. It has a rich and complex history dating back to the 15th century, when Portuguese explorers began frequenting the Guinean coasts in the area near Cape Verga.
Over the centuries, several ports were built along the Guinean coast, including the port of Boké in 1849, Victoria, the Rio Pongo estuary, Dubréka, Conakry, and Méllacorée. However, the preponderance of the choice of the port of Conakry over the other ports was established for two essential reasons: the exceptional geographical location of Tombo Island, protected from the prevailing westerly winds thanks to the presence of the Loos Islands, which was favorable for the construction of a deep-water port, and the cost of construction on the southwest side was high compared to that of the northwest side (current location of the Port)
In 1895, the French lieutenant Noël Ballay, governor of the colony of French Guinea on the forested island of Tombo which later became the capital, signed the birth certificate of the commercial port of Conakry, measuring the scope of transatlantic trade for France. From this period, maritime transport as an instrument used by colonization developed and played a leading role in the evacuation of Guinea's natural resources to the French "metropolis."
Over the years, the port of Conakry has undergone numerous improvements and developments. In 1929, the colonial administration launched the first major works program for the port of Conakry, which spanned the decade 1929-1939 and involved the following actions: the purchase of a 400-liter bucket dredge for depth maintenance, the construction of a 300 m deep-water quay facing the North anchorage to allow the simultaneous reception of two ships of 100 m and 110 m, the beginning of the construction of the breakwater named "Digue de la Prudente" whose works were interrupted during the Second World War, and the construction of a specialized wharf which took the name "banana quay."
From 1939 to 1945, as part of the first two four-year plans, the port of Conakry underwent numerous improvements, notably the construction of four berths founded between 8 m and 11 m and two berths founded at 4 m, thus doubling the size of the port, the construction of a second breakwater and the acquisition of a second 775-liter bucket dredge, the construction of transit sheds, a banana shed, the development of roads, railways, and storage areas, port lighting, water supply to the quays, and the construction of a berth on Kassa Island for the evacuation of bauxite.
In 1955, the port of Conakry had eight berths to receive ocean-going vessels (including the Kassa quay) and had recorded an annual traffic of 1.5 million tons. However, from independence in 1958 until 1981, the port underwent no further development, which led to a state of advanced degradation of the facilities, a low level of port operations, and a drastic drop in the port's use by shipping lines.
Today, the autonomous port of Conakry is a rapidly expanding bauxite and container export port. It is managed by private operators who are responsible for the investments necessary for the development of port infrastructure and equipment. The port of Conakry is the main commercial port of Guinea, through which 90% of foreign trade is conducted. Its geographical location is strategic, as the port forms the city's main maritime border. Only members of the National Union of Road Transporters of Guinea are authorized to operate in the port. The port of Conakry is a key element of the Guinean economy, and its development will continue to play an important role in the future economic growth of Guinea.
info@portconakry.gov.gn
(+224) 655 80 00 80
Corniche Nord, Almamya Commune de Kaloum, CKYBP : 805, Conakry, République de Guinée
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