The verdict in three sentences
For a ship agency at the Port of Cotonou, the useful website in 2026 is an operational tool: an up-to-date port call schedule, a secure shipper portal and an English version for foreign shipowners and freight forwarders. The budget ranges from 3,000,000 to 7,000,000 FCFA (about 4,600 to 10,700 EUR), with an 8-week timeline. An agency handling 300 port calls a year typically recovers 15 to 20 hours a week of operations time currently lost answering the same questions by email and phone.
What shippers really ask for
Shippers, freight forwarders and customs brokers nearly always ask the same questions: estimated time of arrival (ETA) of the vessel, export container cut-off, berth, bill of lading status, local charges and demurrage. Each question requires an agent to open an Excel file, check, then reply. Multiplied by 300 port calls and dozens of clients per call, the volume becomes considerable.
The features to plan for:
- Public port call schedule: vessel, voyage, ETA, ETD, cut-off, status (expected, at anchor, at berth, sailed), updated from Excel or via API from the shipowner's system.
- Shipper portal with login: bill of lading tracking, downloadable invoices and arrival notices, email or WhatsApp alerts when the ETA changes.
- Published local charges (THC, documentation fees, daily demurrage) to avoid disputes.
- Full English version, essential for shipowners, clients from Niger and Burkina Faso transiting through Cotonou, and international partners.
- 3G mobile optimisation, since many forwarders check from their phone at the port.
| Item | Essential version | Full version |
|---|---|---|
| FR/EN showcase site (services, lines served, contacts) | 1,200,000 FCFA | 1,800,000 FCFA |
| Port call schedule with Excel import | 600,000 FCFA | 900,000 FCFA |
| API connection to the shipowner's system | not included | 1,500,000 FCFA |
| Shipper portal (bills of lading, invoices) | 900,000 FCFA | 1,800,000 FCFA |
| Email and WhatsApp alerts on ETA changes | 300,000 FCFA | 600,000 FCFA |
| QA, team training, go-live | included | 400,000 FCFA |
| Total | 3,000,000 FCFA | 7,000,000 FCFA |
Repetitive requests removed and hours saved
We estimated the request volume of a mid-sized agency at the Port of Cotonou, with 300 port calls a year, about 6 a week. These are 2026 orders of magnitude.
| Repetitive request | Current weekly volume | Time per request | After launch | Hours saved per week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vessel ETA and ETD | 90 | 4 min | 85% self-service | 5.1 h |
| Export cut-off | 45 | 4 min | 90% self-service | 2.7 h |
| Copy of bill of lading or arrival notice | 40 | 6 min | 80% downloaded | 3.2 h |
| Local charges amount | 30 | 8 min | 75% read online | 3 h |
| Invoice duplicate | 25 | 5 min | 85% downloaded | 1.8 h |
| Berth change or delay | 20 | 7 min | automatic alerts | 2.3 h |
| Total | 250 requests | about 18 h |
The operations team recovers the equivalent of half a full-time employee, who can focus on preparing port calls and managing key shippers.
Updating port calls: Excel or API?
Most agencies keep their port call schedule in a shared Excel file. The website can import it in one click: the agent uploads the file and the public schedule updates. It is the essential option, robust and inexpensive. Agencies representing a shipowner with an API (or an EDI feed) can automate fully, for an extra cost of about 1,500,000 FCFA. In both cases, every update is timestamped, which protects the agency in a dispute over cut-off information.
Mini case study
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Mr Houngbédji, director of a ship agency in Cotonou, handles 300 port calls a year with 5 operations agents. He invests 5,200,000 FCFA in a website with port call schedule, shipper portal and WhatsApp alerts. The team saves about 18 hours a week, nearly 78 hours a month. Valued at a loaded 4,500 FCFA per hour, those hours are worth about 350,000 FCFA a month. Add fewer demurrage disputes, estimated at 150,000 FCFA a month: the project pays back in just over 10 months.
FAQ
How much does a shipping agency website in Cotonou cost in 2026?
Between 3,000,000 and 7,000,000 FCFA depending on whether the shipowner's system is connected by API. Annual maintenance is around 400,000 to 800,000 FCFA.
How long does it take to launch?
Eight weeks on average, including two to structure the port call file and the shipper portal data.
Is shipper data protected?
Yes, the shipper portal uses login, password and per-client rights. Documents are stored securely, in line with Benin's personal data protection law.
Does the port call schedule work on mobile over 3G?
Yes, it is designed to weigh under 300 KB and load in under 3 seconds on a 3G connection.
Can we publish local charges without commercial risk?
Publishing a reference schedule reduces disputes, which often affect 10 to 15% of invoices. Negotiated discounts remain visible only in the relevant shipper's portal.
Let's scope your project. Send us your annual number of port calls and how you manage your schedule today, and we will price the website, port call schedule and shipper portal between 3,000,000 and 7,000,000 FCFA, delivered in 8 weeks. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
