Activities
The port of Douala, maritime gateway of the Atlantic coast of Cameroon and of the centre of the continent, has experienced since the 15th century an activity which makes it today a reference point. Midway between North and South Africa, this estuary port is situated 04°03'5 N and 09°41'8 E. It covers an area of 1,000 hectares of which 600 are in operation. It is accessible by a 50 km channel divided in two parts of equal length (25km) and signalled by light buoys in accordance with international regulations (AISM). Organised in terminals suited to the requirements of modernity in order to guarantee a great fluidity of traffic, this port receives vessels 24/24 and constitutes a real logistics platform where about 2/3 of the trade of the hinterland and many other countries transit. In terms of infrastructures, the port of Douala provides 66,000 m² of general purpose warehouses, 10 km of quays, 20 km of tarmac roads connected to the South/East and West/South hinterlands as well as 20 km of railway connected to the Trans-Cameroon Railways and finally a large port industrial zone situated on the right bank of the Wouri River. Its management, promotion and its marketing are carried out by the Port Autonome of Douala which has the missions: - coordination of port activities, - assistance and reception of vessels, - management, maintenance and renewal of the port equipment allocated to it, - creation and development of port industrial zones, - safety and security of vessels and the installations by the application of the ISPS Code (International Ship and Port Security). The Port Autonome of Douala has the ambition to continue to play a leading role in the flows of trade in Central Africa and are envisaging several projects in this direction.