Ivory coast

Connecting Ivory Coast to the world

At MSC we offer reliable and efficient shipping services to and from Ivory Coast, for a host of markets and suppliers seeking to do business in and out of the Ivory Coast. If this is the first time you’ve shipped to the Republic of Ivory Coast, be sure to take a look at our in-depth country guide, covering everything from general trade information to import and export procedures, designed to ensure the smooth transport of your goods to or from Ivory Coast.

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LOCAL OFFICES INFORMATION

Terminals in Ivory Coast

Abidjan

Abidjan Terminal is the primary gateway to the Côte d'Ivoire for containers. Excellent road connections also make it a major transit point for land-locked countries such as Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso.  

SOLAS VGM information for the Ivory Coast

What is VGM?

Verified Gross Mass or VGM refers to the exact, verified weight of a packed container. For safety reasons, vessel operators can only load a container if its weight has been verified.

In line with SOLAS (Safety of Lives at Sea) regulations, all marine terminals in the Ivory Coast are now allowed to use their certified scales to record Verified Gross Mass (VGM) of shipments. Download our Ivory Coast VGM policy and terminal guidelines for more information.

What do I need to include in my VGM instructions?

You must include the following on all VGM instructions:

  • Booking or Bill of Lading (BL) number
  • Container number
  • VGM + weight measurement unit (kgs.)
  • Responsible Party Name
  • Digital signature of the authorised signatory in all CAPITAL LETTERS.

How can I submit my VGM instructions?

  • myMSC (Free of Charge) 
  • EDI (via INTTRA; GT NEXUS; Cargo Smart)
  • Manually (via INTTRA; GT NEXUS; Cargo Smart)
  • Email: CIV-info@msc.com (note: the email will only be monitored for VGM declarations)

 
Guidelines for submitting your VGM instructions

  • MSC prefers to receive a Shipper-Verified Gross Mass (VGM) before cargo is delivered. 
  • Any Shipper of Record-signed VGM will override any VGM derived at or by the terminal.
  • For truck delivery, the ultimate deadline for VGM submission will be 12:00 noon local time on the day of the cargo cut-off. 
  • There are currently no US terminals with a “NO VGM – No GATE” policy. 
  • All rail shipments must have the VGM submitted within 24 hours of the container gating in at the origin rail ramp, to avoid any extra fees levied by the terminal for weighing services. Late gates will only be considered for approval when a VGM is submitted by the Shipper of Record before 12:00 noon, local time, on the day of the cargo cut-off. 

MSC admin fees and costs 

  • Manual VGM Submission Fee (applies to email, fax, and inclusion on standard shipping instructions): 25 USD per container. 
  • Late VGM Submission Fee: 25 USD per container. 
  • VGM Misdeclaration Fee: 300 USD per misdeclaration, per container.

Prohibited cargo

It is illegal to bring the following items into or out of the Ivory Coast.
 
Imports

  • Articles containing dog or cat fur 
  • Designated plants 
  • Absinthe (if not compliant with specific regulations) 
  • Matches containing white phosphorus 
  • Ceramic tableware the lead content in the glaze of which exceeds a certain limit 
  • Jadeites or rubies (whether contained in jewellery or not) mined in Myanmar 
  • Gold coins if originating in specific countries (e.g. Cuba, Iran, Myanmar, Sudan) 
  • Counterfeit money 
  • Certain weapons, e.g. specific switchblade knives 
  • Media with immoral or seditious content, such as child pornography
  • Goods prohibited in the scope of economic sanctions, e.g. all Cuban-made articles or merchandise from Iran, Myanmar or Sudan 

Exports 

  • Narcotics and some medication containing prohibited substances 
  • Absinthe (or other alcohols containing Artemisia absinthium) 
  • Endangered species that have not been outlined by CITES. To view the full list, visit the dedicated CITES page
  • Items infringing trade and copyright regulations 

List of terminals 

Ports and terminals
MSC operates services to and from the following Ivory Coast ports and terminals, with local teams in each location to support our customers.

 Port of Loading  Terminal   
ABIDJAN TERMINAL ABIDJAN
SAN-PEDRO TERMINAL SAN-PEDRO

Cargo Loading

MSC's cargo handling facilities are strategically located to ensure the efficient and timely loading of goods for export and import. We also provide cargo consolidation, loading and re-loading, packing, unpacking and cross-loading services from containers to trucks.
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Container Weighing (VGM)

All MSC local offices provide certified scales to record and verify container weight (verified gross mass or VGM) in line with Safety of Lives at Sea (SOLAS) regulations. VGM instructions are mandatory for all shipments for safety reasons and vessel operators can only load a container if its weight has been appropriately verified. Contact your local MSC team for more information and support. 
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Last update: 2024-10-07T01:42:00