Ivory Coast

Customs Trap in Abidjan Ports

Unfortunately, most ships are still being fined for the mis-declaration of the quantity of lube oil onboard. This is due to ships' masters declaring the quantities of lube oil in ships tanks together with lube oil in drums. Since March 2003 it is no longer compulsory to declare lube oil stored in ships tanks. Only the quantity of lube oil stored in drums should be declared on customs manifests.

If a mis-declaration occurs, customs officers will consider the figure mentioned in the ship store declaration as relating only to the quantity of lube oil in drums. Thus the quantity of lube oil in drums is deemed by the customs officers as over estimated and customs penalty fines are levied for the fake declaration .