Douala, Cameroon. Cameroon’s main port of Douala has reopened after a collision between two cargo ships closed the Douala-Bonaberi navigation channel, the transport minister said on Tuesday. No deaths were reported, although both vessels sustained serious damage.
Collision and channel closure
The collision occurred early on Sunday near buoy No. 20 in the Douala-Bonaberi channel. The Tuvalu-flagged MV Sea Honor was leaving port when it collided with the Cyprus-flagged MV Black Rhino, which was arriving.
The incident temporarily halted traffic through the channel, cutting access to one of Central Africa’s busiest ports. Authorities did not disclose the duration of the disruption.
Port importance
Douala-Bonaberi handles most of Cameroon’s maritime trade and serves as a key gateway for goods transported to and from landlocked Chad and the Central African Republic.
Response and investigation
The Port Authority of Douala has opened an investigation into the collision. Preliminary findings indicate that a steering failure aboard the MV Black Rhino was the likely cause.
Transport Minister Jean Ernest Massena Ngalle Bibehe said the MV Sea Honor was cleared from the channel and towed to an anchorage area. The MV Black Rhino was deliberately run aground along the line of red buoys to protect navigation and support clearance operations.
Traffic resumes
All 15 crew members aboard the MV Black Rhino were brought to safety and received assistance under Cameroon’s maritime rescue procedures, according to the transport ministry.
The ministry said the channel has been fully cleared and shipping traffic through the port has returned to normal.