MONROVIA, Friday, November 6, 2026 — APM Terminals Liberia says it is expanding container-yard capacity, moving long-stay import containers and preparing additional cargo-handling equipment as it works with port stakeholders to ease congestion at the Freeport of Monrovia. The company has also confirmed a revised Maersk service under which Monrovia is expected to become the first port of call on the W5A route from January 2027.

The update provides a more detailed account of the terminal operator’s response as importers and businesswomen continue to raise concerns about delayed shipments, rising charges and the effect on local businesses. APM’s operational figures and implementation plans are company statements reported by the media; they have not been independently audited by HeartTalk Network.

Direct Maersk service planned for January 2027

APM Terminals Liberia Managing Director Rachid Baho said the company had confirmed a direct service with A.P. Moller-Maersk. Under the announced arrangement, Monrovia is expected to become the first port of call for the W5A service from January 2027.

APM says Liberia-bound cargo carried on that service will be discharged directly in Monrovia instead of being transshipped through Abidjan. The change is intended to reduce the risk of missed connections and delays at regional transshipment hubs. Its practical benefit will depend on the service’s sailing frequency, schedule reliability, cargo volumes and the time required to clear goods after arrival.

Terminal space and container movement

The company says it is moving hundreds of long-standing import containers out of the main import area to another part of the port. It is also removing buildings inside the terminal to create additional container-stacking space and developing yard areas that are currently unpaved.

APM says some of these measures are expected to take effect within a week, while other work will add capacity over the coming months. The company has not provided a public, independently verified completion schedule for each activity in the reports reviewed by HeartTalk.

Additional equipment expected

APM reports that it has invested about US$15 million in new container-handling equipment so far, including reach stackers, and has committed to further purchases. Equipment expected in the new year includes a third mobile harbour crane, three reach stackers, two empty-container handlers, five terminal trucks and two spreaders.

The additional equipment is intended to improve the terminal’s ability to handle cargo and move containers through the yard. The delivery dates, commissioning schedule and resulting change in daily handling capacity will be important measures of progress.

Why the congestion has become harder to manage

APM estimates that at least 250 import containers need to leave the terminal each day to maintain a sustainable flow. It says the average daily number collected by consignees is about 170. The company also reports that average container dwell time — the period a container remains in the terminal — has risen from seven to eight days in 2025 to 15 to 16 days in 2026.

According to APM, the longer dwell time has effectively reduced the port’s available storage capacity by almost half. These figures are the operator’s estimates, not a separate audit or a complete public dataset. Regular publication of daily collections, container dwell times, yard occupancy and vessel waiting times would help importers and the public assess whether conditions are improving.

A port-wide problem requires coordinated action

The terminal operator says lasting improvement depends on more than the equipment and space under its direct control. It points to vessel scheduling, terminal handling, customs and inspection, documentation, trucking and the timely collection of cargo by importers as connected parts of the process.

That is a shared operational challenge for the National Port Authority, APM Terminals, the Liberia Revenue Authority’s Customs service, shipping lines, customs brokers, truckers, consignees and other port users. Coordination should not dilute accountability: each institution and private operator should publish the actions it is responsible for and report whether those actions are producing measurable results.

What importers and the public should watch

The direct W5A service, yard expansion and new equipment could help improve cargo flow, but the announcement alone does not establish that delays or charges have already fallen. Importers will need clear information on vessel calls, container availability, clearance times, terminal fees and the process for resolving expired delivery orders.

HeartTalk Network will be watching for dated progress reports on the movement of long-stay containers, the opening of additional yard space, equipment arrivals and commissioning, daily container collections, average dwell time and the start of the direct Maersk service. The impact should ultimately be judged by whether cargo moves more predictably and the costs borne by businesses and consumers ease.

Related HeartTalk Network coverage

Read our report on the NPA’s announced emergency measures to ease Freeport congestion and our coverage of Liberian businesswomen demanding action over shipping delays and port charges.

Sources

• FrontPage Africa — “Liberia: APM Terminals Moves to Ease Monrovia Port Congestion, Calls for Joint Action to Speed Up Cargo Clearance”, November 6, 2026.
• The Liberian Investigator — “Liberia: APM Targets Freeport Congestion With Direct Maersk Call”, November 6, 2026.

Editorial note: Statements about container throughput, dwell time, investments, equipment deliveries and the planned Maersk service are attributed to APM Terminals Liberia through the cited reporting. HeartTalk Network has not independently audited those figures or verified that the announced work has been completed. The January 2027 service start and expected equipment deliveries are forward-looking plans.

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