Two cargo vessels, MV Sea Honor and MV Black Rhino, collided in the shipping channel near the Port of Douala-Bonabéri, Cameroon, during the night of July 12. The accident involved the outbound MV Sea Honor and the inbound MV Black Rhino.
Emergency response teams were immediately dispatched to the scene. All 15 crew members aboard MV Black Rhino were safely evacuated, and no fatalities or injuries were reported. Both vessels sustained significant structural damage, while navigation through the port channel was temporarily suspended.
To restore safe navigation, MV Sea Honor was escorted to the anchorage area, while MV Black Rhino was intentionally grounded in a safe location to prevent further obstruction of the channel. Port authorities later confirmed that vessel traffic had fully resumed after the emergency operations were completed.
According to preliminary findings, the collision was likely caused by a loss of steering control aboard MV Black Rhino. A full technical investigation has been launched to determine the exact circumstances of the accident.
The Port of Douala is Cameroon’s largest seaport and one of Central Africa’s most important maritime gateways. Thanks to the rapid response of port authorities and rescue teams, the channel was reopened within hours, minimizing disruption to commercial shipping.
