Danish logistics giant Maersk has opened a technology-driven warehousing and distribution facility in Douala, Cameroon.

Situated in the Douala Port Zone, the facility is for cargo moving in and out of one of the most important ports in the country along the West African coast, one that also serves as a gateway to several markets within Central Africa.

The facility will be spread over 16,000m², including more than 12,000m² covered space that provides more than 8000 pallet positions. It will provide for dry warehousing and distribution with a focus on deconsolidation and fulfilment.

Being a bonded facility, it will also provide for the storage of cargo in the customs clearance process. Maersk will arrange value-added services at this facility, such as palletisation, packing and kitting.

A modern warehouse management system (WMS) will provide accurate and real-time visibility of inventory. Full traceability using lot, batch and serial numbering will ensure efficient movement of goods. This should help reduce waste and inventory errors and provide an improved experience for users.

Maersk has a goal of being net zero by 2040, and every investment made has considerations in terms of the decarbonisation of logistics. The facility in Douala is no exception, with 100% internal lighting done using low-consumption LED lights, and all external lighting powered by solar energy.

All forklifts required in the operations will be battery-operated and charged using solar energy. At the beginning of operations, 15% of the site’s electricity requirements will be fulfilled by solar panels installed at the site itself, with a plan to scale up in the coming years.

Maersk’s customers will get several benefits by using this facility for bonded as well as non-bonded storage and distribution. Bundled with ocean transportation, customs clearances, intermodal transportation and other services, Maersk will provide integrated logistics. This also adds greater control over supply chains and offers higher resilience. All logistics requirements will be fulfilled under the same roof.

“With the rapid expansion of the middle-class population in the region, there is a growing demand for goods, especially in the FMCG sector,” said Michel Koffi, managing director for Maersk (www.maersk.com) in West Africa. “The port of Douala plays a crucial role in meeting this demand, as it handles over 70% of imports into Cameroon, serving both the nation’s population and its landlocked neighbours within the Central African economic and monetary community. The conversations with our customers have revealed a gap between the demand and supply for modern warehouse and distribution facilities that can provide the additional capacity needed in this market. As a response, we have decided to invest in a technology-driven WMS facility.”