Kribi Deep Seaport : Locomotive For Economic Growth

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Kribi Deep Seaport : Locomotive For Economic Growth

The modern infrastructure adapted to the new generation of transoceanic vessels, will transform the

16 mars 2018 15:41

The Kribi Deep Seaport has turned a full cycle in the putting in place of the infrastructure which now prides itself as the hub of sub-regional transhipment. The arrival of the first commercial ship (CMA CGM Bianca, largest ship to have ever anchored in Cameroon) at the Kribi Container Terminal, Thursday March 1, marked a turning point in the economic life of the country and the sub-region as a whole.

The 16m deep port with a dock of 350m and 18 hectares of storage surface area, Kribi Deep Seaport with its strategic location serves as a hub for transhipment connecting the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, domestic destinations in Cameroon as well as Chad and the Central African Republic. This therefore implies that the volume of exports and imports will be enormous as the port serves the entire sub-region (First commercial ship had on board 8,500 containers). The port is capable to dock a 400m vessel carrying 100,000 tons of goods. Therefore, revenue accruing from the port’s tariffs as well as custom duties will swell the State purse and consequently be used for development projects. The particularity of the Kribi Container Terminal is the significant reduction in transit time. According to the Director of the Kribi Container Terminal, the port will receive will high container carriers of up to 11,000 EVP which will reduce transit time for goods. As an expert in international trade, Edwin Nche explained, the reduction of transit time reduces cost of shipment and by implication, a reduction in household costs.

With the coming into the scene of the Kribi Deep Seaport, pundits are expressing fear on the negative impact it will have on the Douala Seaport. The Kribi Seaport according to the officials of the infrastructure, plays a complimentary role with the Douala Seaport. The Kribi Deep Seaport that serves as a transhipment hub not only for the sub-region but also for domestic destinations, will significantly help in decongesting the Douala Seaport which for now is overcrowded. Government is taking measures to create a platform that will ensure fluidity of traffic between the two seaports.

The Kribi Urban Counc...