In March 2010, the Freeport of Monrovia became ISPS Compliant (with no conditions) and moved from Security Level 2 to Security Level 1 in July 2010. The Freeport of Monrovia awarded Operations Contract to APM Terminal to handle port operations, which includes container handling, cargo handling, and marine.

As of 2011, a One-Stop Shop has been established at the Port to make it expedite Shipping and Clearing Procedures. Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Commerce, and Central Bank have set up sub stations at the Port to expedite the process.

Establishment
 
An act of Legislature established the National Port Authority in 1967 (amended in 1970) as a state-owned enterprise to manage, plan and develop all ports in Liberia. The Authority manages four ports, namely, the Freeport of Monrovia, the Port of Buchanan, the Port of Greenville and the Port of Harper.

The Freeport of Monrovia is the largest in the Authority's Network. The United States Military built the port during World War II for strategic purposes. It handles most of the country's imported cargoes. Two breakwaters, 2,359m and 2,200m long, protect the harbour, enclosing a basin of 300 hectares of protected water. The general cargo berth, (the main pier), consists of an opened piled, 610m long by 11m wide marginal wharf with a reinforced concrete deck. The main wharf serves 2nd and 3rd generation coastal and mainline vessel.

The Port of Buchanan is located 170miles South-east of Monrovia. The Liberia-American Swedish Company (LAMCO), a joint venture company, constructed the port in 1960 for the export of iron ore deposits of the Nimba Range. Two break waters, 1,890m and 590m long to protect the harbour. Inside the basin, a 225m long ore-loading quay is located to the deeper section of the harbour basin with a water depth of 12.95m below chart datum. Adjacent to the loading quay, a waiting berth for ore carrier is available. On the inner side of the secondary breakwater, a commercial quay 334m long is located with an available water depth of 10.15m below chart datum. The access channel to the port provides ship a water depth of 14.95m below chart datum and a channel width between the breakwaters of 210m.

The Port of Greenville is also located in the South-eastern region of the country, Sinoe County, about 421 miles from the Freeport of Monrovia. A 400m long breakwater protects the harbour. There are two quays (70m and 180m long respectively) on the inner side of the breakwater for berthing facilities, with an existing water depth of 6m below chart datum. The port was rehabilitated in the early eighties with loan from the German Development Fund. The port functions mainly as an outlet for the timber industry.

The Port of Harper is situated in the South-eastern region of Liberia, Maryland County, near the border with the Ivory Coast, about 476 miles from the Freeport of Monrovia. The Port was constructed in 1959, on the rocky Russwurn Island, by connecting the island to the mainland with a causeway and by constructing a 150m long breakwater off the Russwurn Island. A 100m long reinforced concrete pier with an available water depth of 5.50m provides berthing facilities. The port serves the timber industry of the South-eastern hinterland.

Port of Monrovia

The largest port in the authority's network, Freeport of Monrovia was built by the United States military during World War II for strategic purposes. It handles most of the authority's imported cargo, some of which are transshipped to other Liberian ports and to third countries. The Freeport of Monrovia consists of an artificial harbor formed by two-rock breakwater approximately 2,300 meters out into the open sea, which encompass some 300 hectares of protected water. The coastline between the breakwater is dredged to accommodate oceangoing vessels and ore carriers (up to 100,000 dwt) and a marginal wharf of 610 metres long is capable of berthing 3–4 ships according to their size. The port is connected with Monrovia by an access road(four lanes approximately 1.5 kilometres long with two connecting bridges over the Mesurraddo River, of which one is out of use.

From the seaside, the vessels enter the harbour basin through an entrance channel approximately 2,000 m long and 180 m wide. The central part of the port area is occupied by two iron ore companies (NIOC and Bong Mines) that previously operated their own facilities but have since folded up operations. A crude oil mooring station is located between the iron ore piers.

The general cargo wharf located south of this central area, is entirely operated by NPA which provides all onshore services and facilities to the users. The former Liberia Mining Company (LMC) pier which is not operational except for use by local fishing trawlers is situated at the northern end of the General Cargo wharf.

There is 500 m long oil jetty for refined products situated alongside the southern breakwater approximately 450 m off the coastline and it is connected to the tank farms by pipelines. The back of the Freeport is occupied by the port warehouses and shed s and also by private bonded warehouses.

Port of Buchanan
The Port of Buchanan is located some 272 kilometers South-East of Monrovia. It was constructed in 1960 by the Liberian-American Swedish Mining Corporation (LAMCO), a joint venture company, to export the iron ore deposits of the Nimba range.

The Harbor is protected by two breakwaters, 1890 and 590 long respectively. Inside the basin, a 255 meters long ore loading quay is located adjacent to the deeper section of the harbor basin, providing a water depth of 12.95m below chart datum. Adjacent to the loading quay, a waiting berth for ore carriers is available. On the inner side of secondary breakwater, a commercial quay, 334 meters long is located with available water depth of 9.5 m.

Latitude:  5° 51' 29" N

Longitude: 10° 3' 15" W

UN/LOCODE: LRUCN

Port Type: Seaport

Port Size:              Small

Port of Harper

It was constructed by connecting the Island to the mainland with a causeway and constructing a 150 meter long breakwater off Russwurm Island. Berthing facilities are provided by a 100 meter long reinforced concrete pier with available water depth of 5.5 meters on both sides. Its activities are centered on the exports of logs and sawn timber from the southeastern hinterland of the country. It has the potential to handle traffic that will derive from the reactivation of the palm oil sector.

Latitude:                           4° 22' 18" N

Longitude:                        7° 43' 25" W

UN/LOCODE:                     LRHAR

Port Type:                         Pier, Jetty or Wharf

Port Size:                          Small

Port of Greenville

The Port of Greenville is located in the south-eastern region of the country, about 673 kilometers from the Freeport of Monrovia. The harbor is protected by a 400 meter long two quay breakwater on the inner side. There are two berthing facilities 70 and 80 meters long respectively, with existing water depth of 6 meters below chart datum.

It was rehabilitated in the early 1980s with funds from the German Development Fund. Prior to the civil crisis, the port functioned as an outlet for the log and sawn timber industries. It had an annual pre-war throughput of 281,860.5 metric tons.

Latitude:                    4° 59' 22" N

Longitude:                 9° 2' 30" W

UN/LOCODE:              LRGRE

Port Type:                  Harbor

Port Size:                   Small

See also
Port authority
Port operator
Transport in Liberia

References

External links
NPA newsletter
NPA Photo Gallery
National Port Authority official site
Maritime Organisations of West and Central Africa, Republic of Liberia
Liberian Shipowners' Council
OT Africa Line, Liberia

Government of Liberia
Port authorities
Organizations established in 1967
Economy of Monrovia
Ports and harbours of Liberia
1967 establishments in Liberia