National Port Authority - Port of Monrovia

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 ocean going vessel and ore carriers (up to 100,000 dwt) and a marginal wharf of 610 meters 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 kilometers long with two connecting bridges over the Mesurraddo River of which one is out of use.

From the seaside, the vessel enter the harbor 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.