BY NDUMBE BELL JG in Douala
In the middle of the Ports Authority of Douala’s (PAD’s) rapidly changing dynamics to become a competitive port of reference in the Central African cluster and the Gulf of Guinea, two newly acquired ultra-modern tugboats have been commissioned by the Minister of Transport, Ernest Ngale Bebeye at Quai N° 9 of the Douala-Bonaberi port, recently.
The General Manager GM of PAD, Cyrus Ngo’o, in the presence of Transport Minister, the administrative team, the Governor of the Board Chair of PAD (Shey Yembe), security, traditional and religious leaders, experts and invited guests, recounted a brief history before the materialisation of the project, which will actively militate towards the realisation of maritime solutions, thanks to his administrative team.
Henceforth, the two engines said to have cost FCFA 11.5 bilion, will reduce delays and cost through their capacities of the pulling in and out of container carriers, thereby reduce congestion and hasten the process. The GM of PAD estimated that all the international and national norms were fulfilled and acknowledged the expertise and engagement taken by the Damien Company, which signed an undertaking with PAD and for its successful realisation.
In achieving this modernisation process, Cyrus Ngo’o has always acknowledged the presence of the Minister and government’s support, since the Head of State’s vision announced on October 6, 2011. He acknowledged the good working relationship he had with the technical members of his team and the collaboration with Chantier Naval throughout this journey.
The GM, in another scathing revelation declared that the name of the two tugboats are called E.M.L Endeley and John Ngu Foncha, explaining after recounting a brief history of each of them, that they had played a central role in the evolution of the political life of Cameroon. The two were renowned Anglophone politicians at the forefront of reunification in the 60s.
He continued acknowledging the presence of their family representatives, chiefs and other institutions, who came from the South-West and North-West regions, including cultural groups.
In a press briefing granted on site after the inspection of the two engines (boats), the Minister of Transport, Ernest Ngale Bebeye, surrounded by kingpins of the administration, emphasised and reiterated two major objectives of the event. The first one was what he called the materialization of the vision of the Head of State to ensure that the Port of Douala becomes innovated and rehabilitated to take its place as an ever competitive and reference port in the two regions of the Central African cluster wherein is Cameroon and the broader Gulf of Guinea. In the other broad objective, Minister Bebeye made reference to what the GM, Cyrus Ngo’o had earlier recounted, stating that the naming or christianing of the tugboats as E.M. L. Endeley and John Ngu Foncha, epitomises or is a reincarnation of the emblematic roles these persons have played to evolve the politic history of Cameroon.
According to the marine officers, the maximum speed of each of the boats is 240 km per hour, 30 meters long and 10 meters wide. Each of them has a horse power of 5.150 and can tow carriers of maximum sixty tons.
The tugboats are said to have been produced in Vietnam and finished in Dubai. From there, it was navigated south to South Africa and journeyed 25000 miles to the turbulent coastline of Gabon and the Republic of Congo into Cameroon, thanks to PAD’s brave team.