Maritime, port and transport law

Douala is the principal port of Cameroon and one of the main gateways to Chad and the Central African Republic. Cargo that arrives here travels far inland, and a claim can involve a carrier, a stevedore, a trucking company and an insurer at once.

Road carriage between OHADA States is governed by the Uniform Act on Contracts for the Carriage of Goods by Road, in force since 1 January 2004. Maritime matters are governed by the Merchant Shipping Code of the CEMAC community and by the contracts of carriage themselves.

Our work includes

• Charterparties, bills of lading and contracts of affreightment
• Cargo loss, shortage and damage claims, for cargo interests and for carriers
• Arrest of vessels and release against security
• Demurrage, detention and laytime disputes
• Collision, salvage and general average
• Port operations, stevedoring and terminal liability
• Road carriage claims under the OHADA Uniform Act, including the carrier's limits of liability
• Customs disputes and detention of goods
• Recovery actions against carriers and their insurers