A three-day workshop by the Cameroon Navy and the EU ended in Douala on April 20, 2016.

The safety of passengers and vessels is important in the event of collision. Though collisions hardly occur in Cameroonian waters, there is need to understand maritime crises management techniques in order to better handle any eventuality. Organised by the Cameroon Navy, with resource persons from the European Union Project, “Critical Maritime Route in Gulf of Guinea” (CRIMGO), experts carried out a collision simulation between a fishing boat and a cargo ship in the sea.

They applied crisis management techniques, saving lives, taking care of the wounded and salvaging the sinking ship while following up the runaway vessel. Admiral Jean-Pierre Labonne, CRIMGOs team leader, said it was important to carry out regular training to be more efficient to face real crises. CRIMGO’s Eric Glotin, in charge of Maritime Training, disclosed that while the ship in distress is catered for, the runaway vessel is also pursued by trained officers.

On his part, Captain Amadou Lame of the Douala Naval Base, said with the training, stakeholders will be more ready to take care of crises when they occur. “We have strengthened the four committees involved in crisis management; notably the think tank, evaluation, communication and crisis coordination,” he added. The three-day workshop at the Douala Naval Base brought together officials from the administration, Ministry of External Relations, fisheries sector, Seaport Police, Ministry of Transport, maritime companies, the Douala Port Authority, fire fighters, Customs and CRIMGO students.