Pilotage
Pilotage consists of the assistance provided to ship masters by maritime pilots. It begins when the pilot boards the vessel within the limits of the pilotage station and ends once the vessel has reached its destination — whether at anchorage, alongside the quay, or at the boundary of the station.
The pilot supports the master in navigating the vessel when entering or leaving the port, the roadstead, and inland waters. The pilot brings specialised expertise not only in nautical conditions (such as tides and currents), but also in ship manoeuvring.
During pilotage operations, the pilot remains under the authority of the vessel’s master.
In addition, the pilot liaises with other port professionals, including Harbour Masters, tugboat captains, and mooring teams, who play a role during the berthing and unberthing of vessels.
Towing Services
Towing consists of assisting all types of vessels in their manoeuvres within the port, under all circumstances. Towing services include, in particular:
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Operations involving pulling or pushing the vessel,
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Manoeuvres for berthing, unberthing, or shifting the vessel,
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Escorting and providing assistance in the execution of other navigational manoeuvres.
The towing contract begins as soon as the tugboat arrives in proximity to the vessel in order to commence towing operations immediately, and it ends once the final required towing operation has been completed.
Mooring Services
During vessel calls, mooring services cover all operations related to securing, letting go, and repositioning the vessel. The ship’s mooring lines are safely handled and placed onto quayside bollards. Mooring personnel operate from a dedicated service craft.
Thanks to their professional training, these seafarers provide their expertise 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, in service of the vessels. Working in coordination with maritime pilots and tugboat crews, mooring operations remain under the direct authority of the Port Harbour Master’s Office, with a common objective of ensuring that each vessel call is carried out under optimal conditions.
II – Cargo Handling Services
Cargo handling is considered the driving force of port activity. It includes all loading and unloading operations of merchant vessels using lifting equipment.
At the Port of Djen Djen, the cargo handling chain is composed of several professions, each of key importance. These technical roles require heightened vigilance, where safety is paramount and high operational discipline is essential, ensuring both the protection of personnel and the integrity of the cargo.
Vertical Cargo Handling
When cargo is moved between ship and shore (or vice versa) using cranes, this is referred to as vertical cargo handling. These operations involve loading and unloading cargo on board the vessel with the support of handling equipment of various lifting capacities.
For further details, please refer to the Equipment section.
Horizontal Cargo Handling
These handling operations are carried out by skilled professionals working either on board vessels or on the quayside. They are responsible for moving and securing the cargo being loaded or unloaded. Commonly referred to as RO/RO (roll-on/roll-off) operations, the Port of Djen Djen is equipped with three ramps dedicated to handling rolling cargo.
III – Stevedoring and Warehousing
The organisation of cargo storage and removal operations is primarily the responsibility of the Stevedoring Department. This includes receiving and tallying cargo during loading and unloading, identifying and verifying cargo ashore, preserving and safeguarding goods, and ensuring their custody until they are either loaded onto the vessel or delivered to the consignee.
The department is composed of stevedoring supervisors, warehouse managers, and tally clerks, who work in close coordination with the Cargo Handling Department. Their expertise forms a key factor in the successful management and organisation of cargo storage.
These trained professionals ensure that customer requests are carried out with accuracy and care.
The Operations Directorate ensures four shifts organised as follows:
- 1 st shift from 7h00 to 13h00,
- 2 nd shift from 13h00 to 19h00
- 3 th shift from 19h00 to 1h00 am
- 4 th shift from 1h00 am to 7h00 am
IV – Logistics
In addition to stevedoring operations, which involve transporting cargo between designated areas within the port premises (from the quay to the storage area and vice versa), the Port of Djen Djen maintains its own fleet of trucks, enabling it to offer a Port-to-Door service to its clients.
This service ensures the safe delivery of goods to their final consignees, while applying competitive pricing and maintaining a level of service that meets the highest expectations.
Meets internationally recognised safety and security standards.
Optimising costs and operational timing, with a continuous commitment to high-quality service.
Covering both ship services and cargo loading and unloading operations.