Most companies ranking for shipping lines in Ghana are ship agents, freight forwarders, clearing agents or courier consolidators working through Tema and Takoradi, not vessel owners. Use a port agency for a vessel call, a forwarder for containers and a consolidator for small China parcels, then request written quotes, because none publishes rates.
Updated October 2026
This page sorts the Ghana shipping and maritime logistics providers that appear for this search by what they actually do, then gives you the questions to ask before you pay a deposit. Every service, contact and figure is attributed to the company that publishes it.
Shipping companies serving Ghana at a glance
Treat the service lists and the performance counters below as company statements rather than independent measurements.
| Company | Provider type and published services | Base, ports or routes named |
|---|---|---|
| Supermaritime Tema (Supermaritime Group) | Vessel and port agency with clearing and forwarding desks. | Tema, the largest port in Ghana, at the Gulf of Guinea about 30 km east of Accra[1]. |
| Supermaritime International B.V. | Group sales and operations office for origin coordination. | Stationsplein 45 A2-206, 3013 AK Rotterdam, The Netherlands[1]. |
| McDan Shipping Company Limited | Freight forwarding and logistics; says it delivers efficient, secure and cost-effective shipping solutions across Africa and beyond[2]. | Says its partnerships connect Africa to over 2,000 ports and global markets[2]. It announced offices in Lome, Togo and Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso[2]. |
| Seabird Ghana Limited | Agency and husbandry, ship management and brokerage[3], transport and haulage[3], offshore services[3], underwater services[3]and maritime or ship repair[3]. | Says it has a presence in Togo, Benin, Nigeria and Abidjan with partners in the Americas, Europe and Asia[3]. |
| Capital Shipping Ghana Limited | Freight forwarding, warehousing and distribution; says it specialises in storing and managing goods with inventory management, order fulfilment, distribution and shipping[4]. | Tema, opposite Don Bosco Training Institute. |
| SF International Ghana (the site presents a partnership offer under the Wayex Logistic name) | Courier, air and sea cargo and port clearance; says it has served the world over 30 years in courier service with a yearly turnover of 90 billion dollars[5]. | Dzorwulu in Accra and a Kumasi office on Dr. Osei Tuffour Bypass[5]. |
If a quote reaches you under the Wayex Logistic name through SF International Ghana, confirm which legal entity is contracting and registered before you pay anything. If you searched for Super Cargo Ghana or Super Maritime Group, the group in this table is Supermaritime, whose sales and operations office sits in Rotterdam with a Tema office[1].
Shipping lines, shipping agents or freight forwarders: which do you need?
A shipping line owns or operates the vessels and sells slots on them. A port or ship agency acts for the vessel in port, handling husbandry, documentation and port formalities. A freight forwarder buys space from carriers and arranges the whole move. A clearing agent files your declaration with the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, and a courier or consolidator groups small parcels into one shipment.
The search mixes all five types together, which is why buyers call the wrong company and lose a week. Match the job to the type:
- Vessel calling at Tema or Takoradi: appoint a port and ship agency.
- Full or part container import or export: appoint a freight forwarder with clearing capability.
- Project, heavy lift or offshore cargo: appoint a maritime logistics firm with offshore and haulage services.
- Small China to Ghana consignments: use a courier or consolidator.
- Loading and discharge at the berth: that is stevedoring, normally done by the terminal operator or a stevedoring contractor rather than your forwarder. Ask in writing who will perform it on your booking.
Who does what: agency, haulage, warehousing and brokerage
| Service | Published by | What it covers for you |
|---|---|---|
| Agency and husbandry | Seabird Ghana Limited[3] | Acting for the vessel in port: crew, stores, documents and port formalities |
| Ship management and brokerage | Seabird Ghana Limited[3] | Running or chartering tonnage and matching cargo to vessels |
| Transport and haulage | Seabird Ghana Limited[3] | Inland movement of containers and break bulk after discharge |
| Offshore and underwater work | Seabird Ghana Limited[3] | Support for rigs, moorings and subsea inspection |
| Maritime and ship repair | Seabird Ghana Limited[3] | Afloat and alongside repair of vessels and craft |
| Warehousing and distribution | Capital Shipping Ghana Limited[4] | Storage after discharge, stock control and onward delivery |
| Pan-African forwarding | McDan Shipping Company Limited[2] | Multi-country bookings and transit moves beyond Ghana |
| Courier and consolidation | SF International Ghana[5] | Parcels and groupage for samples and e-commerce volumes |
What credentials does each company publish?
Seabird Ghana says its activities incorporate ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015 and ISO 45001:2018 certifications with IMS validation from DNV[3]. McDan Shipping lists Shipping Company of the Year at the 8th Ghana Business Awards and Brand of the Year at the Ghana Shippers Awards, both in 2025[2]. Its earlier recognition includes a rank of number 54 top company in Ghana in the Ghana Club 100 Awards run by GIPC in 2014, and number 5 fastest growing company in Ghana in 2012 to 2013[2]. The same company announced a GHS 12 million investment in modern, fuel-efficient vehicles and green logistics technologies[2].
Capital Shipping Ghana publishes a counter of 340 plus clients with round the clock availability and calls itself a trusted logistics company since 2021[4]. Supermaritime publishes named desk contacts instead of certifications, which helps more when you need a person today.
How should you read a company’s experience counters?
Say you want a feel for McDan’s scale from its own figures. The company states 27+ years moving cargo and 5,000+ projects delivered, and says it has been trusted since 1999[2]. Those totals cover the whole history of the business, so they describe accumulated experience rather than a capacity promise for your booking. Ask how many live shipments your own account manager handles at once.
Consolidated contacts, last checked October 2026
- Supermaritime Tema, Managing Director N. van der Eng: +31 (0)88 7302301, +233 (0)303 202625 and +233 (0)544 314409[1].
- Supermaritime Tema, Clearing and Forwarding Manager G. Heranger: +31 (0)88 7302302 and +233 (0)509 538555[1].
- Supermaritime International B.V. global sales and operations office: +31 (0)10 2171 900[1].
- McDan Shipping Company Limited: info@mcdanshipping.com, sales@mcdanshipping.com and +233 249 991199[2].
- Seabird Ghana Limited: +233 261 518 736, +233 205 038 488 and operations@seabirdghana.com[3].
- Capital Shipping Ghana Limited: +233 55 808 2021, opposite Don Bosco Training Institute, Tema[4].
- SF International Ghana, Dzorwulu office near 46 Sir Emmanuel Quist Street, GPS GA – 158 – 0709: +233 (0) 555 111 111[5].
- SF International Ghana, Kumasi office: +233 (0) 555 111 111 and +233 (0) 243 700 682[5].
What does Tema port offer your container?
| Facility or role | Detail published |
|---|---|
| Berths | 12 deep water berths[1] |
| Terminals and jetties | A modern container shipping terminal, an Oil Jetty and CBM/SPM offshore mooring facilities[1] |
| Storage | Warehouse facilities and reefer storage capacity, described as sufficient[1] |
| Cargo role | Opened in 1962 and handling imports, exports and transit cargoes for Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali[1] |
Why it matters: reefer capacity decides whether chilled cargo can wait at the port, and the transit role explains why Tema feels congested when landlocked traffic peaks. Takoradi is Ghana’s other commercial seaport and is commonly used for bulk, mining and energy cargo. For current berth and terminal status, ask the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, and raise service complaints with the Ghana Shippers Authority.
Ocean freight, customs clearance and the Ghana to China route
For most importers the sequence is the same: book ocean freight, collect the bill of lading, pay duty and file through ICUMS, then clear and haul. Our walkthrough of how to clear an imported parcel through customs in Ghana covers the declaration side, and the shipping to Ghana cost, customs duty and fees guide explains what you will pay. Check the prohibited and restricted items list before you buy, because a restricted item turns a cheap booking into a detained container.
On the China lane, small buyers usually use a consolidator and larger buyers book a full container through a forwarder. SF International Ghana sells air cargo, sea cargo and port clearance alongside its courier work, and Capital Shipping Ghana combines freight with storage after discharge. If you buy from the China malls trade, groupage is normally the practical option for part loads.
Nobody here publishes a rate, so what should you expect?
None of these Ghana providers publishes a freight rate, a duty figure or a transit time, and their terms differ, so compare them in writing. Cost-effective, as McDan uses it, is positioning rather than a price[2]. Anyone quoting a firm China to Ghana container rate without your route, container size, incoterm and cargo details is guessing. Ask for quotes with a validity date attached.
How do you choose and brief a shipping company in Ghana?
This page is for importers, exporters and project buyers building a shortlist. It is not for someone who already holds a carrier booking and only needs a declaration filed; in that case go straight to a licensed clearing firm such as the Africa Global Logistics Ghana listing.
- Pick the provider type first using the decision list above, then shortlist two or three companies.
- Match the base to your port. Tema-based firms suit Tema discharge, while a group office abroad handles origin coordination.
- Ask what is in-house and what is subcontracted. Haulage and warehousing under one roof shortens the chain[3].
- Give every provider the same brief: origin and destination port, container size, weight and volume, incoterm, cargo description and HS code, required delivery date and storage needs.
- Compare the full landed figure, not only ocean freight: terminal handling, haulage, demurrage terms, storage and clearing fees.
- Verify the company, its registration, its clearing licence and the exact legal entity printed on the invoice.
What can go wrong
The common failures are a quote that excludes local charges, demurrage running while documents are chased, a restricted item that cannot be released, and payment made to a trading name that does not match the contracting entity. Deal with all four at the briefing stage. Awards and client counters are useful signals, yet they are self-published, so still ask for two recent references on a similar lane.
Try this today
- Write one brief with your origin, destination, container size, incoterm and cargo description.
- Send it to one port agency and two forwarders using the consolidated contacts above.
- Ask each for an all-in landed quote with a validity date and the free demurrage days stated.
- Confirm the invoicing entity, registration and clearing licence before any deposit.
- Diary a follow-up for seven days, then choose on total cost and clarity, not on the lowest freight line.
Next step: browse more providers in the transport and logistics directory, or read more trade guides in our business section. If a number here has changed, tell us and we will correct it.
Frequently asked questions
How can I ship to Ghana?
Pick a provider type, then book. A freight forwarder buys the ocean or air space and arranges haulage, while a clearing agent files your declaration through ICUMS with the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority. Most cargo lands at Tema, which handles imports, exports and transit cargoes for Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali[1]. Send the same brief to two or three firms.
How many ports are there in Ghana?
Ghana has two commercial seaports, Tema and Takoradi, plus smaller fishing and river landing sites. Tema is the larger container gateway and sits at the Gulf of Guinea about 30 km east of Accra[1]. Takoradi is usually chosen for bulk, mining and energy cargo. Confirm the current terminal and berth list with the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority before you plan a vessel call.
What are the main shipping lines in the world?
Ghana’s ports are served by global container carriers, but those carriers normally sell through local agents rather than direct offices, which is why a search for shipping lines in Ghana returns agents and forwarders. Ask your forwarder which carrier it is booking on, under which service and with what transit time, and get the carrier name written on the booking confirmation.
How much does it cost to ship a 40-foot container from China to Ghana?
No provider on this page publishes a rate for that lane, and sea freight pricing moves with season, equipment availability and fuel. A quote is only meaningful once you give the loading port, container size, incoterm, cargo description and HS code. Compare the landed total, including terminal handling, haulage, clearing and demurrage, rather than the ocean line alone.
Which companies in Ghana combine warehousing with shipping?
Capital Shipping Ghana Limited says it specialises in storing and managing goods, offering inventory management, order fulfilment, distribution and shipping services[4]. Seabird Ghana Limited publishes transport and haulage services alongside its agency work[3]. Ask whether the warehouse is owned or rented, what the storage rate is per pallet or square metre, and how stock reports are shared.
Who should an exporter contact for a Ghana to China container booking?
Use a freight forwarder for a full container and a consolidator for part loads. SF International Ghana presents a partnership offer under the Wayex Logistic name for shipping goods between Ghana and China, so confirm which legal entity contracts before paying. McDan Shipping Company Limited says its partnerships connect Africa to over 2,000 ports and global markets[2], which suits multi-country bookings.
Which documents does a clearing agent need before releasing a container?
Expect to provide the bill of lading or waybill, the commercial invoice, the packing list, your taxpayer identification details and any permit the cargo type needs. The declaration is filed through ICUMS, and duty must be paid before release. Check the restricted items list first, because a permit requirement discovered after arrival is what pushes containers into demurrage.
Sources
- Supermaritime – Tema – Supermaritime Group
- Mcdanshipping – McDan Shipping Company Limited – International Logistics & Freight Forwarding Ghana
- Seabirdghana – Maritime Logistics, Oil and Gas Services – Seabird Ghana Ltd. (21 Jan 2025)
- Capitalshippingghana – Home – Capital Shipping Ghana Limited (24 Jun 2025)
- Sfinternationalghana
