Phase 3 of the Port of Douala’s security and reception program, the result of a bold partnership with PortSec, marks a new stage in its ongoing transformation. The goal is to align its practices with international standards and strengthen its appeal in a competitive regional environment.
Positioning the port among the most efficient logistics platforms in Central Africa
The Autonomous Port of Douala (PAD) is preparing to embark on a new phase of its transformation process. On March 21, 2025, PortSec, a technical partner, announced that the third phase of the Douala Port Security (DPS) project would soon be launched.
The DPS Project, launched in 2019, aims to strengthen the security of port infrastructure and activities. This ambitious project is part of a comprehensive plan to position the port among the most efficient logistics platforms in Central Africa, similar to the Port of Tanga, which has established itself as a benchmark in the region.
Located in the Wouri estuary, the Port of Douala, on the Atlantic coast, handles 75% of Cameroon’s maritime transport. This sector is of strategic importance for landlocked nations in the sub-region, such as Chad, the Central African Republic, and northern Congo.
Implementing a series of structural reforms
Due to the increase in transaction volume, traffic has increased from 10 to 13 million tons in ten years. Container throughput has reached 380,900 TEUs. This follows the port authorities’ initiative to implement a series of structural reforms.
These reforms focus primarily on:
- Securing traffic flows
- Reducing losses
- Improving infrastructure
Beyond these challenges, priorities are diverse, and security is a central element.
Implementation of cutting-edge security systems
The third phase of the DPS project, awarded to PortSec, includes the implementation of cutting-edge security systems:
- Smart cameras
- Biometric access devices
- Drones
- Naval training simulator
In addition to these facilities, the establishment of medical departments and emergency response teams, composed of five doctors and twenty nurses, is also planned. This includes strengthening the port security staff.
Two hundred new security officers, trained in the latest industry standards, will strengthen the existing teams. A maritime training center, accessible to individuals outside the port, is also planned, given the current lack of such a facility in the region.
Optimizing port operating cost management
These reforms are part of a modernization process that must be intensified. Since 2016, approximately 60 billion CFA francs (approximately 91 million EUR) have been invested in port infrastructure and services such as cranes, gantries, depots, and logistics tractors.
Furthermore, a billing reform launched in 2019 has led to a significant increase in port revenues. Fees have quadrupled and currently stand at 20 billion CFA francs.
Losses due to damage or theft of goods, particularly timber cargo, which could amount to up to 20% of diverted goods, have been drastically reduced.
Aligning with regional competition
With a constantly growing population, Douala now has more than six million inhabitants and faces formidable competition from other ports in the region. Kribi is particularly advanced, but lagging far behind in terms of volume handled.
Douala is capitalizing on its potential and aims to maintain its position as a leading logistics platform. The site, covering an area of 25.5 km², is currently experiencing 100% industrial utilization, compared to 30% in 2018. The stated objective is to double traffic volume to reach 24 million tons by 2030.
However, the transformation of the Port of Douala, which began ten years ago, depends on a delicate balance between public investment, technological developments, and institutional governance. Security is only one, undeniably crucial, element of a supply chain that the port aspires to make more fluid, secure, and transparent.
