Between 2021 and 2025, the Régie de remorquage (RDR) of the Port Authority of Douala posted revenue of CFA7.263 billion. This is more than double the CFA3.389 billion generated by Spanish operator Boluda at the end of its 17-year concession in 2020. The figures were disclosed on January 9, 2026, during celebrations marking five years since the creation of the RDR.
Beyond revenue growth, the performance highlights a shift in value flows from towing activities in favor of the port authority and the state. Over five years, cumulative royalties paid to the Port Authority of Douala reached CFA5.4 billion, compared with CFA7.62 billion paid by Boluda over a 17-year period.
In effect, the RDR generated more than 70% of the royalties produced under a concession nearly four times longer, reflecting a higher return from the public service for the benefit of the port authority. At the same time, cumulative taxes paid to the public treasury totaled CFA4.8 billion, illustrating the capacity of the new governance model to turn a historically loss-making activity into a steady source of budget revenue.
According to Cyrus Ngo’o, chairman of the RDR board and chief executive of the Port Authority of Douala, the results validate the economic rationale behind the strategic decision to bring the activity back under public control. He said the performance has also gone hand in hand with the creation of direct jobs filled exclusively by nationals, as well as efforts to strengthen training and professional skills.
The port authority plans to extend this momentum by continuing productive investment while consolidating governance. The RDR currently operates seven tugboats, including two acquired in July 2025 for CFA11.5 billion. According to the port authority, the fleet supports smoother operations across the national and regional maritime logistics chain and is intended to strengthen the competitiveness of the Port of Douala.
Frédéric Nonos
