Douala Port's Towing Management Service Five years of strategic performance celebrated in grand style.

The event held Frida, January 9, 2026. It was presided over by the Director General of PAD, Cyrus Ngo'o, in his capacity as Chairman of the Board of Directors of RDR SA. 

Also in attendance were senior officials of the port community, representatives of public enterprises, technical partners, and staff of the towing management service.

Created in 2020 and effectively operational from 2021, the RDR SA, emerged from the government’s policy of port sector normalisation initiated in 2016. 

The move, it was said, is aimed at reclaiming strategic maritime functions essential to national sovereignty, navigational safety, and overall port performance.

Towing services at the Port of Douala-Bonaberi, once conceded to a private operator, were brought back under public control to ensure service continuity, operational efficiency, and enhanced oversight. 

Five years on, stakeholders agree that the decision has yielded measurable and sustainable results worth celebrating 

As such, in his address, RDR SA Board Chair, Cyrus Ngo’o, highlighted the financial performance of RDR SA, underscoring its growing contribution to both the PAD and the State Treasury.

He said in 2020, the final year under the former concessionaire, towing operations generated a turnover of 3.389 billion FCFA, with 587 million FCFA paid to the PAD as royalties. 

By 2021, the first year of public management, turnover rose to 4.345 billion FCFA while royalties increased to 727 million FCFA. The upsurge trend, he said, has been sustained. 

Cyrus Ngo’o noted that as of December 31, 2025, RDR SA reported a turnover of 7.263 billion FCFA, more than double the 2020 figure. 

Between 2021 and 2025, cumulative royalties paid to the PAD, he disclosed, stood at 5.4 billion FCFA, representing over 70 percent of what the former concessionaire remitted during 17 years of operation.

In addition, the company contributed 4.879 billion FCFA to State revenues in taxes and duties over the same period.

Operational efficiency, safety gains

Looking above financial indicators, RDR SA, it was said, has recorded significant operational improvements. 

Notably, average maneuvering times have been reduced, fleet availability rates have increased, and nautical incidents have declined strengthening overall port safety.

The gains were supported by a proactive equipment modernisation policy, including the acquisition of two brand-new tugboats dubbed J.N Foncha and E.M.L Endeley two emblematic figures of Cameroon's independence history. 

This was alongside the rehabilitation and maintenance of existing vessels. The enhanced towing capacity now meets international standards, improving the reliability and predictability of port operations for shipowners and cargo operators.

The towing service’s scope has also expanded beyond conventional assistance to include security monitoring of vessels, refloating assistance for ships in distress, and support for ship transshipment and mooring operations.

PAD Director General further emphasised the strategic synergy between the Towing Management and the port’s dredging operations, a pillar of port normalisation. 

He noted that continuous maintenance of draft levels, reduced navigation interruptions due to silting, and controlled maintenance costs have collectively enhanced the fluidity and safety of maritime access to the port.

According to him, the combined efforts directly bolster the competitiveness of the Port of Douala-Bonabéri within the Central African sub-region.

Human capital, responsible governance

A key hallmark of RDR’s five-year journey has been the steady rise in staff competencies. Through sustained training, professional certification, and validation of port-related trades, the company has strengthened its human resource base while stabilizing operating costs and improving compliance with environmental and safety standards.

While rendering his speech prior, the General Manager of RDR SA, Chuyeh Edward Mbunkur, described the anniversary as both a moment of gratitude and renewed commitment.

“Five years later, this celebration allows us to measure the path travelled, salute the efforts made, and reaffirm our commitment to operational excellence in service of the Port of Douala-Bonaberi and the national economy,” he stated.

He paid tribute to the Board of Directors, institutional and technical partners, and the workforce, whose professionalism and strong sense of public service, he said, have underpinned the company’s success.

However, RDR SA is expected to consolidate ongoing reforms, strengthen productive investment, deepen good governance, and actively support the long-term positioning of the Port of Douala-Bonaberi as a modern logistics hub of reference in Central Africa.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3671 of Monday January 12, 2026