Maritime Organization of West and Central Africa

Office National des transports et des Ports
pilotage: Compulsory. Pilot boards 1.6 km off Pointe Française. Requests for pilot should be sent 48h in advance of ETA, giving speed, draft, grt and destination; also confirmation of ETA should be given 24 and 6 h in advance. pilot station can normally be contacted directly via Radio Banana between 04:00 and 17:00. VHF Channels 74, 73, 16, 14 and 12.

Radio information: Banana Radio is in operation between 04:30 - 20:30. Call sign 9PA. VHF Channels 22, 16, 12 and 8.
Telegraphy: 500kHz, listening 480 & 512khz, working 440 Khz.
Telephony : Banana Radio 87 14 & 13078.5 Khz, listening frequencies 2182, 4125, 6215.5, 8257 & 12392 Khz. Banana

Situated at the mouth of the River Zaire on the N Bank.
Port Authority: Office National des Transports (ONATRA) Boulevard du 30 Juin, PO Box 98, Kinshasa, Telex: 21017 ONATRA ZR.

Airport: Muanda, 15 km. Approach: The River Zaire can be entered directly from the sea without danger, vessels passing through deep water. Depth on bar is 5.5 m at LW. Caution is advised on entering Banana Creek, which is subject to very strong flood and ebb tides.

Office National des transports et des Ports
pilotage: Compulsory. Pilot boards 1.6 km off Pointe Française. Requests for pilot should be sent 48h in advance of ETA, giving speed, draft, grt and destination; also confirmation of ETA should be given 24 and 6 h in advance. pilot station can normally be contacted directly via Radio Banana between 04:00 and 17:00. VHF Channels 74, 73, 16, 14 and 12.

Radio information: Banana Radio is in operation between 04:30 - 20:30. Call sign 9PA. VHF Channels 22, 16, 12 and 8.
Telegraphy: 500kHz, listening 480 & 512khz, working 440 Khz.
Telephony : Banana Radio 87 14 & 13078.5 Khz, listening frequencies 2182, 4125, 6215.5, 8257 & 12392 Khz.

Boma

The Port of Boma is located on the right bank of the Zaire River, 74 km from the mouth. The river is navigable all the way.
Port Authority: Office National des Transports (ONATRA) Boulevard du 30 Juin, PO Box 98, Kinshasa, télex: 21017 ONATRA ZR.
Officials: Port Manager - Harbour Master.
Airport: 3.2 km from port.
Approach: Permissable draught between Banana and Boma varies between 6.4 and 8.5 m depending on season. Draught restrictions are regularly notifed by the Port Authority.

Matadi
The Port of Matadi is located on the left bank of the Zaire River, 140 km from the mouth and approx. 120 km from Banana pilot station. Principal port of Zaire.
Authority: Office National des Transports (ONATRA) Boulevard du 30 Juin - PO Box 98, Kinshasa, - Tel.: Matadi 2525 - Telex: 21017 ONATRA ZR.
Airport: Tshimpi, 17 km from port.
Working hours: First shift : 06:30 - 14:30. Second shift: 14:30 - 22:30. Third shift: 22:30 - 06:30.
Approach: Vessels have to pass the Devil's Cauldron' (5 km before Matadi) where an average current rate of 8 knots is experienced in December, reducing vessel speed at this time of the year to 11 knots.

Navigation of the Zaire River between Banana and Matadi is limited to day-light hours ; light buoys are placed alongside the river but sometimes adrift. Depth at entrance 9.14 m. Between Banana and Boma, owing to sandbanks, the permitted draft is between 6.4 and 8.53 m depending on the season. Draught restrictions are regularly notified by the Port Authority.