First Commercial Vessel Calls at the Kribi Deep Seaport
First Commercial Vessel Calls at the Kribi Deep Seaport
The M/V Medi Lisbon Officially Opens the Port’s Operational Register
On June 22, 2017, a historic milestone was reached in Cameroon’s maritime history. The M/V Medi Lisbon, flying the Singaporean flag, became the very first commercial vessel to berth at the Kribi Deep Seaport — officially launching the port’s commercial operations and marking the beginning of a new era for the Port Authority of Kribi (PAK).
A Historic Milestone for Cameroon
After five days anchored off the coast of Kribi, the M/V Medi Lisbon of the D’Amico Shipping Company berthed on June 22, 2017, at 9:23 a.m. at the Kribi Multipurpose Terminal. The event, presided over by the General Manager of the Port Authority of Kribi, Mr. Patrice Melom, in the presence of administrative and military authorities, marked the official opening of the port’s operational register — a significant achievement in Cameroon’s port development strategy.
A Major Logistical Operation
Chartered by BIOCAM (Biomass Cameroon), the 189-meter-long vessel is loading a cargo of 27,500 tons of rubber wood chips bound for Ireland. The entire operation is being coordinated by PAK’s technical and operational teams, demonstrating their readiness, professionalism, and ability to ensure safe and efficient port activities.
A Key Step Toward Full Operationalization
This first commercial call serves as a large-scale test of the port’s operational capabilities. “More vessels are coming. We will move forward progressively,” stated the General Manager, reaffirming PAK’s commitment to establishing Kribi as a reliable and competitive maritime platform in Central Africa.
A Strategic Project for Regional Development
Designed as a fourth-generation deep seaport, Kribi boasts quays with depths of up to 16 meters, capable of handling vessels up to 400 meters long and processing nearly 100,000 tons of cargo. The project aligns with the vision of President Paul Biya’s “Great Achievements” initiative and aims to make Cameroon a major logistics and trade hub for Central Africa and the Gulf of Guinea.
