Cargo Ship Collision Briefly Disrupts Operations At Cameroon’s Busiest Commercial Port

Two cargo vessels collided in the main navigation channel of the Port of Douala-Bonabéri in Cameroon, temporarily disrupting vessel traffic before authorities cleared the area and reopened the waterway.

The incident took place around 3:00 a.m. local time on July 12 near buoy No. 20 and involved the outbound bulk carrier MV Sea Honor and the inbound cargo ship MV Black Rhino, according to the Douala Port Authority (PAD).

All 15 crew members aboard Black Rhino were rescued after the vessel was damaged in the collision. No injuries or fatalities were reported among the crews of either ship.

Following the accident, emergency teams moved quickly to clear the navigation channel.

The damaged Black Rhino was intentionally grounded to prevent it from blocking the shipping route, while Sea Honor was escorted to an anchorage area.

The Port Authority later confirmed that the channel had been reopened and vessel operations had resumed.

“Both vessels sustained significant material damage, and navigation was temporarily disrupted,” the port authority said.

Initial findings suggest that a loss of steering control aboard Black Rhino may have caused the collision. A technical investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the accident.

Damage to Both Vessels

The collision involved the 28,400-deadweight-ton bulk carrier Sea Honor and the 5,113-deadweight-ton cargo ship Black Rhino.

Sea Honor, a Chinese vessel registered in Tuvalu, was built in 1998 and has a length of 177 metres. The vessel suffered damage to its bulbous bow, with images showing a smaller gash above the waterline.

Black Rhino, a Cyprus-registered cargo ship built in 1997, measures 100 metres in length. The vessel sustained more serious damage, with images showing a large opening after the collision. The ship began taking on water following the incident.

The crew of Black Rhino abandoned the vessel before authorities grounded it as a precautionary measure.

Port Traffic Restored

The Port of Douala-Bonabéri is Cameroon’s main maritime trade hub and handles the majority of the country’s imports and exports.

It also serves as a transit route for cargo heading to landlocked countries such as Chad and the Central African Republic.

The collision temporarily suspended navigation through the port’s main channel while authorities carried out emergency response operations.

Cameroon’s transport minister announced on July 14 that port activities had resumed.

Investigation Underway

Authorities are continuing their investigation into the circumstances that led to the collision.

According to records cited in the source material, Black Rhino was detained for 15 days following a 2024 Port State Control inspection in Belgium that identified 31 deficiencies.

The vessel later completed two inspections in 2025 with no reported deficiencies.

The Port Authority said the preliminary investigation points to a possible loss of steering control aboard Black Rhino, while a full technical review remains ongoing.

References: Xinhua, gloap