The equipment received in Mboro yesterday, July 8, 2014, is evidence of the Kribi Deep Seaport’s ability to receive heavy vessels.

Heavy-duty vessels can now conveniently anchor at the general port site of the Kribi Deep Seaport in Mboro, some 35 km from Kribi town, even though the project is still over 96 per cent done. Some of the port’s vital equipment, two tug boats, meant to facilitate the anchoring of bigger vessels, sailed to a halt at the port’s site in Mboro yesterday July 8, 2014, to the joy of the project’s stakeholders who converged on the site to witness the historic ceremony.

The two tug boats christened ‘Roi Mayesse’ and ‘Roi Madola,’ came onboard a heavy vessel, Hansa Heavy Lift Ship, a 170-metre long, 10-metre deep ship (Valpariso) from Shantou, China. According to the Coordinator of the Operational Unit of the Kribi Deep Seaport Project, Patrice Melom, who received the tug boats alongside other dignitaries, the arrival of the equipment announces better days for the port.

The fact that the heavy-duty vessel that carried the tugs anchored at the port, like was the case last February when the first one came with other port equipment, is telling of the port’s readiness to receive commercial ships once ongoing finishing works are done. “This shows that structures are done, given that the four per cent remaining work will be through soon. Technically, the port is operational,” he assured. As to when a commercial ship would anchor at the port, Patrice Melom likened the port to a new hotel which needs management and a better publicity for potential customers to know that there is something good for use. 

After the construction works are done, the powers that be will need to appoint management of the port and recruit personnel for its functioning. “We are carrying out preparatory works for the full functioning of the port and users would certainly come to see if the conditions are favourable for them to sail here, which is our wish. The interest here is for everyone to understand that ships now anchor in Kribi and that the technical conditions have all been put in place,” he said.

According to the General Manager of China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) Cameroon, Edward Xu, an operating terminal absolutely needs tug boats to enable big ships to anchor. “What we had at the port before was a tug boat from Douala and we cannot afford to go to Douala each time a ship is to anchor here. I think the tug boats we have can serve four terminals. This means that these tug boats will serve for the port that is near completion as well as for the terminals that will be constructed during the second phase of the project,” he said. Government, he added, needs to think of how to ensure the efficient management of the boats for sustainability.