Car Shipping to Nouakchott, Mauritania
On the Atlantic coast about 15 km from central Nouakchott, Mauritania's capital. UK Vehicle Exporters Ltd ships vehicles from the UK to Nouakchott, handling the whole UK side for you: car sourcing, tax-free supply where the car qualifies, buying on your behalf, inspections, collection and delivery to the UK port, UK customs clearance and loading onto the ship.
About Autonomous Port of Nouakchott (Port de l'Amitié)
The Port Autonome de Nouakchott, known as the Port de l'Amitié (Friendship Port), is Mauritania's main commercial port, built with Chinese finance and opened in 1986. It handled a record 6 million tonnes in 2024, up from 5.44 million tonnes and about 134,000 TEU in 2023, and has about 2,025 metres of quays. A new container and oil terminal, Terminal à Conteneurs de Nouakchott, built under a 30-year concession by Arise and Meridiam, opened in 2022 with a 250,000 TEU capacity.
Area served: Besides Mauritania, the port serves Mali, and transit cargo for Mali and neighbouring countries gets reduced port charges.
How Vehicles Are Handled at Nouakchott
The port has a dedicated ro-ro quay for vehicles and heavy rolling equipment, about 300 metres long with 12 metres of draught, within its multipurpose facilities. Containers go through the Terminal à Conteneurs de Nouakchott, which has a 570 metre quay at 14 metres. Grimaldi's West Africa ro-ro schedule lists Nouakchott calls.
- Port authority
- Port Autonome de Nouakchott (PANPA)
- Ro-ro quay
- About 300 m, 12 m draught
- Container terminal
- Terminal à Conteneurs de Nouakchott (Arise and Meridiam), opened 2022
- Throughput
- 6 million tonnes (2024)
- Container traffic
- About 134,000 TEU (2023)
- Opened
- 1986
Shipping a Car from the UK to Nouakchott
We handle the whole UK side of an export to Nouakchott: sourcing the vehicle, tax-free supply from the selling dealer where the car qualifies, collection from any UK address, UK customs clearance and export documentation, and loading onto the ship by RoRo or container. Current carrier schedules show 2-5 weeks port to port, sailing from Felixstowe, Liverpool, Tilbury and London Gateway. Lines on the route include MSC and Grimaldi.
Any import duty and taxes are paid by the importer, whoever clears the car. We can arrange customs clearance, registration and delivery to your door through a local agent, quoted separately, or work with an agent of your choice. For costs, the full sailing schedule and everything else about exporting to Mauritania, see our Mauritania shipping guide.
Upcoming Sailings to Nouakchott
Dates are carrier estimates and must be reconfirmed before booking.
| Departs | From | Arrives | Vessel | Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Oct 2026 | Felixstowe | 3 Nov 2026 | MSC Strait II | MSC |
| 13 Oct 2026 | Felixstowe | 3 Nov 2026 | MSC Strait II | MSC |
| 14 Oct 2026 | Felixstowe | 3 Nov 2026 | MSC Strait II | MSC |
| 15 Oct 2026 | Liverpool | 3 Nov 2026 | MSC Strait II | MSC |
| 17 Oct 2026 | Tilbury | 4 Nov 2026 | Grande Luanda | Grimaldi |
| 25 Oct 2026 | London Gateway | 21 Nov 2026 | Contship New | MSC |
| 26 Oct 2026 | London Gateway | 21 Nov 2026 | Contship New | MSC |
| 29 Oct 2026 | Liverpool | 21 Nov 2026 | Contship New | MSC |
Our Other Services
UK Car Sourcing & Supply
We source any new or used vehicle from any manufacturer in the UK, through our network of franchised dealers, car auctions, classified listings and private sellers, then inspect, purchase and export it to your country.
Buy a Car in the UK on Your Behalf
We check, view and buy the UK car you've found, from a dealer or a private seller, then ship it to you, protecting you from the pitfalls of paying an unknown seller from overseas.
Tax-Free & VAT-Free Vehicle Supply
We find new and VAT-qualifying used cars from VAT-registered dealers who will sell them free of UK VAT for export, which takes a sixth off a VAT-inclusive price. The saving comes from the dealer, not as a refund from us: we are not VAT registered. We arrange the export and give the dealer the proof it needs.
New / Used Car Export
We export new and used cars from the UK every week, sourced from our dealer, auction and trade network or supplied by you, given a multi-point inspection before shipment and shipped worldwide by RoRo or container.
Pre-Purchase Inspections
Before you commit to a car, we check its DVLA, MOT and recall records and run a paid UK history check, then view it, compare it with its logbook and send you photos and a video. A full mechanical inspection by an independent inspector can be added, quoted separately.
Government Pre-Shipping Inspection
Where the destination country requires a pre-export roadworthiness inspection, we arrange it with the approved inspection agency before the sailing so the vehicle is not held up on arrival. Quoted separately from the shipping price.
UK Vehicle Collection & Delivery
We collect any vehicle from any UK address and deliver it to the departure port at £1 per mile, driven on DVLA plates or moved on a carrier, timed to meet the booked sailing.
Secure Vehicle Storage
Vehicles wait with us in a secure compound between purchase and sailing, so there is no rush to move a car the day you buy it and nothing accumulating in storage charges at the port. Quoted separately from the shipping price.
Paintwork Reconditioning
Where a car would arrive the better for it, we can recondition the paintwork before it ships — worth doing while the vehicle is with us rather than paying to sort it out after it lands. Quoted separately from the shipping price.
UK Vehicle Customs Clearance
We make export declarations directly on the UK customs system and prepare every document needed at the UK port of exit, including the Bill of Lading, export certificate and DVLA export documentation.